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Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does an Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer in the United States is $150,400 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $72.

However, an Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $167,976
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $140,200 to $159,600
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $130,913
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View as table View as graph 25% $140,200 10% $130,913 90% $167,976 75% $159,600 $150,400 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $159,600 $13,300 $3,069 $77
Average $150,400 $12,533 $2,892 $72
25th Percentile $140,200 $11,683 $2,696 $67
Check out Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer Job Openings in the United States
Sr Quality Assurance Engineer

Corporate One FCU - Columbus, OH

Chief AI Officer

Confidential - Columbus, OH

Associate Vice President Internal Communications

Confidential - Columbus, OH

Vice President Credit Risk Strategy&Data Science

Confidential - Columbus, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer Salaries

An Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education, and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • QA/Validation Engineer III (4-7 years): $100,757
  • QA/Validation Engineer IV (7+ years): $125,315
  • Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer (7-10 years): $150,352
  • QA/Validation Engineering Supervisor (10+ years): $112,623
  • QA/Validation Engineering Manager (10+ years): $131,646
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
QA/Validation Engineer III4-7 years$100,757
QA/Validation Engineer IV7+ years$125,315
Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer7-10 years$150,352
QA/Validation Engineering Supervisor10+ years$112,623
QA/Validation Engineering Manager10+ years$131,646
$100,757 QA/Valida...
$125,315 QA/Valida...
$150,352 Expert/Co...
$112,623 QA/Valida...
$131,646 QA/Valida...
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $166,500.
  • California: $165,900.
  • Massachusetts: $163,700.

Top Paying Cities for Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $189,700
  • San Francisco: $187,600
  • Oakland: $183,700

What Skills Can Increase an Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 3.85% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Scrum (Mentioned in 2.79% Job Postings): Using an agile process for managing the lifecycle development of software products.
  • ISO (Mentioned in 1.74% Job Postings): The International Organization for Standardization is an international standard development organization composed of representatives from the national standards organizations of member countries.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 3.85%
Scrum 2.79%
ISO 1.74%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer's salary.
  • Debugging: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Networking: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Teamwork: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Debugging
 $159,424
6%
Networking
 $157,920
5%
Teamwork
 $156,416
4%
Process Improvement
 $154,912
3%
Products and Services
 $154,912
3%
Alignment
 $154,912
3%
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Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $168,364. While startup companies pay approximate $142,432.

Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup1~50$142,432
Growth Stage51~500$150,639
Established501~5000$162,585
Enterprise5000+$168,364

Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 58% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Financial Services and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer positions in Transportation or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$195,520$94.030%
Biotechnology$188,000$90.025%
Pharmaceuticals$180,480$87.020%
Energy & Utilities$172,960$83.015%
Aerospace & Defense$165,440$80.010%

How Education impacts an Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineers enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $151,145 and $157,810).

Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 3.7%
High School 3.7%
Associates 3.7%
Bachelors 52.1%
Masters 36.2%
Doctorate 4.3%
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Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$140,200
Average $150,400/year
$159,600
$11,683
Average $12,533/month
$13,300
$2,696
Average $2,892/week
$3,069
$67
Average $72/hour
$77
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $159,600 $13,300 $3,069 $77
Average $150,400 $12,533 $2,892 $72
25th Percentile $140,200 $11,683 $2,696 $67

Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer Salary Growth & Career Path

Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer
QA/Validation Engineering Supervisor
QA/Validation Engineering Manager

For an Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the QA/Validation Engineering Supervisor role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $112,700 - a projected growth of -25% over your current level.

Salaries of jobs related to Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer

Salary Trends for Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer

Salaries for an Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $145,351 in 2023 to around $143,683 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$145,351
2024
$145,675
2025
$143,683
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $145,351
2024 $145,675
2025 $143,683
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer

Here are companies hiring for Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States

  • KreilKamp Trucking

    Columbus, OH

    Regional Truck Driver Company

    KreilKamp Trucking | Columbus, OH

    Regional CDL A Drivers | NEW Grads Welcome | Earn $70,000+ Annually. We're proud to be a 4th generation family truck line, started in 1935, but even proude... more

    19 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Vice President Payments Engineering

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Payments Engineering. About the Company. Globally-recognized provider of corporate payment solutions. Industry. Financial Services. Type. P... more

    21 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Senior Vice President of Project Delivery

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Senior Vice President of Project Delivery. About the Company. A multi-billion-dollar construction organization with collaborative, servant-minded leadershi... more

    21 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Chief of Staff

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Chief of Staff. About the Company. Innovative travel platform for booking & managing work trips. Industry. Computer Software. Type. Privately Held, VC-back... more

    21 Days Ago

  • McDonalds

    Columbus, OH

    McDonalds

    McDonalds | Columbus, OH

    McDonald’s is seeking Crew Team Members to assist with daily restaurant operations including customer service, food preparation, and maintaining restaurant... more

    28 Days Ago

  • Amazon Flex

    Columbus, OH

    Amazon Flex

    Amazon Flex | Columbus, OH

    Amazon Flex Delivery Drivers use their own vehicle to deliver Amazon packages to customers on scheduled delivery blocks. Drivers are responsible for pickin... more

    28 Days Ago

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FAQ about Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer?

The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer roles, with salaries approximately 30% above the market median.

2. What is the highest quality engineer's salary?

The highest salary for an Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer is $170,900. The minimum salary starts at $146,000, while the mid-range salary is $157,900. This reflects the competitive compensation for experienced professionals in the field.

3. What is the payscale of quality assurance engineer?

The payscale for an Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer typically ranges from a minimum salary of $146,000 to a maximum of $170,900, with a mid-salary of $157,900. This reflects the higher end of the QA Engineer market, especially in competitive locations.

4. Is Quality Assurance Engineer a good job?

Quality Assurance Engineering is indeed a great career choice! With salaries ranging from $146,000 to $170,900, it offers competitive compensation. The demand for QA engineers is high and expected to grow, making it a stable and rewarding profession for the future. If you're considering this path, it's a promising option!

5. What is the highest salary in QA?

The highest salary for an Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer is $170,900. Generally, salaries in this field range from a minimum of $146,000 to a mid-level of $157,900, reflecting the expertise and experience required for these roles.

6. Do QA engineers make good money?

Yes, QA engineers can earn a competitive salary. For Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineers, salaries range from a minimum of $146,000 to a mid-level of $157,900, with top earners making up to $170,900. This reflects a strong earning potential in the field, especially for those with significant experience and expertise.

7. What is the average salary of a quality assurance consultant?

The average salary for an Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer ranges from $146,000 to $170,900, with a mid-salary of $157,900. This reflects the competitive compensation for experienced professionals in the field, highlighting the value placed on quality assurance expertise.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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