TechnologyUpdated Q1 2026No state income tax

QA Engineer Salary
in Odessa, TX

Design and execute test plans to ensure software quality and reliability. Median salary in Odessa: $81K/year. Data from BLS, O*NET, and H-1B disclosures.

Median salary
$81K
per year
Take-home: $57K

Salary range in Odessa

Entry level (25th)$60,000
Median (50th)$81,000
Senior (75th)$106,000
Top earner (90th)$134,000
Data freshness

Figures represent annual base salary in Odessa, Texas. Reviewed by SalaryOptics Editorial Β· How we calculate this β†’

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What the numbers say for Odessa

Analysis derived from the salary, COL, tax, and labor-market figures above β€” specific to this role and city.

15% discount vs national median

QA Engineers in Odessa earn approximately 15% lower than the US national median for this role β€” a $14,000 discount on annual base salary. Odessa's lower wage level partially reflects the area's cost-of-living index of 85 (US avg = 100).

No state income tax β€” $8K effective edge

Texas has no state income tax, which is worth roughly $7,533 per year at this salary level compared to a California QA Engineer on the same gross pay. A Odessa QA Engineer would need to earn $89,305 in California to net the same take-home.

68% remote-eligible

This role is 68% remote-eligible nationally according to job-posting analysis, which significantly expands the job market for Odessa-based QA Engineers. Many Odessa professionals in this role are paid on the locality scale of their employer's HQ rather than Odessa's local rate β€” verify which scale your offer references before negotiating.

Key facts for Odessa

Median salary
$81K
annual
Take-home pay
$57K
after fed/state tax
COL index
85
100 = US avg
State income tax
None
no-tax state
Avg 1BR rent
$1,050
per month
YoY growth
+3%
salary trend

Salary forecast: Odessa QA Engineer to 2030

Based on BLS 2022–2032 Employment Projections and WEF Future of Jobs Report 2026. At current growth rates, median salary reaches $81K by 2030.

Salary trend & forecast β€” Odessa

Historical (2019–2025) + projected to 2030 based on BLS growth rates

HistoricalProjected
QA Engineer salary trend 2019–2030PROJECTED β†’$68K$74K$80K$86K$92K201920212023202520272029
2026
$83K
projected
2027
$85K
projected
2028
$87K
projected
2029
$89K
projected
2030
$92K
projected

Projections based on BLS Employment Projections 2022–2032 CAGR and WEF Jobs Report 2025. Not financial advice.

YearProjected median salaryvs today
2027 projected$81,000+$0
2028 projected$81,000+$0
2029 projected$81,000+$0
2030 projected$81,000+$0

Projections use compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from BLS occupational outlook data. Actual salaries may vary.

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QA Engineer Salary in Odessa, Texas: Complete Guide (2026)

The median QA Engineer salary in Odessa, TX is $81,000 per year as of Q1 2026. This figure represents the midpoint of all reported compensation for this role in the Odessa–TX 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.

Salary range for QA Engineer in Odessa

Entry-level QA Engineers in Odessa with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $60,000 and $81,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $81,000 to $106,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $106,000 to $134,000 or more.

Cost of living in Odessa for QA Engineers

Odessa has a cost of living index of 85 compared to the US national average of 100. This means your salary goes approximately 15% further in Odessa than the national average. Crucially, Texas has no state income tax β€” giving Odessa-based QA Engineers an immediate 5–7% take-home pay advantage over workers in states like California (9.3%) or New York (6.85%).

Education requirements for QA Engineer

Bachelor's in CS or related. This role is 68% remote-eligible nationally, which can significantly expand the job market for Odessa-based professionals.

QA Engineer salary in nearby cities

CityMedian salaryCOL index
Odessa (current)$81K85
Houston$100K91
San Antonio$87K87
Dallas$106K96
Austin$116K110
Fort Worth$100K93