Design and execute test plans to ensure software quality and reliability. Median salary in Hilo: $147K/year. Data from BLS, O*NET, and H-1B disclosures.
Figures represent annual base salary in Hilo, Hawaii. Reviewed by SalaryOptics Editorial · How we calculate this →
Analysis derived from the salary, COL, tax, and labor-market figures above — specific to this role and city.
QA Engineers in Hilo earn approximately 55% higher than the US national median for this role — a $52,000 premium on annual base salary. This reflects Hilo's position as a higher-cost labor market where employers must match local wage norms.
Hawaii's 11% state income tax reduces take-home by roughly $16,170 per year at the median salary. A QA Engineer relocating to a no-tax state like Texas, Florida, or Tennessee would retain that amount without changing gross pay.
This role is 68% remote-eligible nationally according to job-posting analysis, which significantly expands the job market for Hilo-based QA Engineers. Many Hilo professionals in this role are paid on the locality scale of their employer's HQ rather than Hilo's local rate — verify which scale your offer references before negotiating.
Based on BLS 2022–2032 Employment Projections and WEF Future of Jobs Report 2026. At current growth rates, median salary reaches $147K by 2030.
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The median QA Engineer salary in Hilo, HI is $147,000 per year as of Q1 2026. This figure represents the midpoint of all reported compensation for this role in the Hilo–HI metropolitan area, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics, H-1B visa disclosures from the Department of Labor, and O*NET occupational data.
Entry-level QA Engineers in Hilo with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $109,000 and $147,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $147,000 to $194,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $194,000 to $245,000 or more.
Hilo has a cost of living index of 155 compared to the US national average of 100. Hilo's cost of living is above the US average, so the salary figures above reflect local market rates. Hawaii has a 11% state income tax rate.
Bachelor's in CS or related. This role is 68% remote-eligible nationally, which can significantly expand the job market for Hilo-based professionals.