Hourly Wage for Master Level Quality Assurance Engineer Salary in the United States

What is the hourly salary range of Master Level Quality Assurance Engineer?

As of September 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Master Level Quality Assurance Engineer in the United States is $72, which translates to an annual salary of about $150,360.

However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:

Top Earners (90th percentile): $81 per hour
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $67 to $77 per hour
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $63 per hour

10% $63

50% (Median) $72

90% $81

Master Level Quality Assurance Engineer Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$159,610	$13,301	$3,069	$77
Average	$150,360	$12,530	$2,892	$72
25th Percentile	$140,170	$11,681	$2,696	$67

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Key Factors That Influence Master Level Quality Assurance Engineer Salaries

A Master 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 Master Level Quality Assurance Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Master 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): $100,754
QA/Validation Engineer IV (7+ years): $125,321
Master Level Quality Assurance Engineer (7-10 years): $150,354
QA/Validation Engineering Supervisor (10+ years): $112,622
QA/Validation Engineering Manager (10+ years): $131,640

Job Role	Years of Experience	Average Salary
QA/Validation Engineer III	4-7 years	$100,754
QA/Validation Engineer IV	7+ years	$125,321
Master Level Quality Assurance Engineer	7-10 years	$150,354
QA/Validation Engineering Supervisor	10+ years	$112,622
QA/Validation Engineering Manager	10+ years	$131,640

View as Graph

How Do Master 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 Master Level Quality Assurance Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $166,480.
California: $165,850.
Massachusetts: $163,640.

District of Columbia $166,480 California $165,850 Massachusetts $163,640 Washington $163,030 New Jersey $162,970 Alaska $162,760 Connecticut $160,690 New York $159,850

Hawaii $157,160 Rhode Island $155,890 Maryland $155,040 Minnesota $153,860 Colorado $153,410 Illinois $153,260 Oregon $152,690 Delaware $152,270

New Hampshire $152,000 Virginia $151,410 Pennsylvania $149,680 Nevada $148,810 North Dakota $148,520 Michigan $148,070 Wisconsin $147,910 Vermont $147,580

Texas $146,660 Maine $146,600 Arizona $146,510 Ohio $146,400 Georgia $145,020 Indiana $144,330 Wyoming $144,190 Utah $143,980

Iowa $143,890 Kansas $143,170 Louisiana $142,960 North Carolina $142,890 Missouri $142,860 Florida $142,270 Montana $141,950 Nebraska $141,650

Kentucky $141,490 South Carolina $140,890 Tennessee $140,510 Idaho $140,360 New Mexico $139,260 Oklahoma $139,020 Alabama $138,140 South Dakota $136,650

Arkansas $135,830 West Virginia $135,400 Mississippi $134,090

Top Paying Cities for Master 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: $189,650
San Francisco: $187,570
Oakland: $183,620

San Jose, CA $189,650

San Francisco, CA $187,570

Oakland, CA $183,620

New York, NY $173,120

Paramus, NJ $171,020

Queens Village, NY $171,010

Passaic, NJ $170,870

Bergenfield, NJ $170,850

Stamford, CT $170,520

Huntington, NY $170,460

Newark, NJ $169,350

Bridgeport, CT $169,030

Vallejo, CA $168,730

New Brunswick, NJ $168,670

Petaluma, CA $168,580

Middlesex, NJ $168,300

Somerset, NJ $168,190

Santa Cruz, CA $168,000

Boston, MA $167,080

Monterey, CA $166,550

Seattle, WA $166,210

Santa Rosa, CA $166,180

Los Angeles, CA $166,130

Juneau, AK $165,740

Washington, DC $165,570

Orange, CA $165,040

Santa Ana, CA $164,640

Long Beach, CA $164,490

Anaheim, CA $164,460

Anchorage, AK $164,390

Santa Maria, CA $163,940

Everett, WA $163,910

Danbury, CT $163,380

Bremerton, WA $163,170

Tacoma, WA $162,630

New Suffolk, NY $162,620

Sacramento, CA $162,580

Santa Barbara, CA $162,420

Trenton, NJ $162,250

San Diego, CA $162,250

Brockton, MA $162,090

Fairbanks, AK $161,720

Lompoc, CA $161,330

Lowell, MA $161,210

Ventura, CA $161,180

Nashua, NH $161,150

Stockton, CA $161,140

Modesto, CA $160,040

Poughkeepsie, NY $159,710

Olympia, WA $159,430

Kennewick, WA $159,430

New Haven, CT $159,370

Lawrence, MA $158,820

Hartford, CT $158,670

Riverside, CA $158,640

New Bedford, MA $158,490

Richland, WA $158,490

Bakersfield, CA $158,280

San Bernardino, CA $158,220

New Britain, CT $158,210

Atlantic City, NJ $158,210

New London, CT $158,150

Norwich, CT $158,100

Portsmouth, NH $158,070

Boulder, CO $157,750

Portland, OR $157,550

Worcester, MA $157,530

Minneapolis, MN $157,060

Philadelphia, PA $156,850

Honolulu, HI $156,360

Saint Paul, MN $156,290

Vineland, NJ $156,250

Providence, RI $155,820

Chicago, IL $155,380

Bellingham, WA $155,200

Springfield, MA $155,080

Baltimore, MD $155,040

Chico, CA $154,660

Pittsfield, MA $154,250

Manchester, NH $153,970

Spokane, WA $153,310

Denver, CO $153,290

Albany, NY $152,580

Troy, NY $152,520

Nassau, NY $152,360

Schenectady, NY $152,210

Wilmington, DE $152,090

Burlington, VT $151,880

Salem, OR $151,820

Portland, ME $151,350

Yakima, WA $151,200

Rochester, MN $150,730

Reno, NV $150,660

Fresno, CA $150,660

Milwaukee, WI $150,520

Detroit, MI $150,370

Ann Arbor, MI $150,350

Allentown, PA $150,330

Colorado Springs, CO $150,070

Syracuse, NY $150,000

Carson City, NV $150,000

Houston, TX $149,790

Eugene, OR $149,710

Gary, IN $149,530

Springfield, OR $149,410

Bismarck, ND $149,380

Galveston, TX $149,280

Medford, OR $149,050

Fort Collins, CO $148,990

Concord, NH $148,920

Austin, TX $148,870

Mesa, AZ $148,550

Reading, PA $148,540

Phoenix, AZ $148,520

Dallas, TX $148,480

Saint Cloud, MN $148,340

Madison, WI $148,130

Utica, NY $147,730

Rochester, NY $147,490

Des Moines, IA $147,470

Raleigh, NC $147,460

Atlanta, GA $147,230

Battle Creek, MI $147,190

Salt Lake City, UT $147,140

Lancaster, PA $146,920

Harrisburg, PA $146,710

Kansas City, MO $146,560

Champaign, IL $146,520

Kansas City, KS $146,520

Fort Worth, TX $146,510

Columbus, OH $146,480

Boca Raton, FL $146,450

Pittsburgh, PA $146,390

Richmond, VA $146,330

Indianapolis, IN $146,300

Cleveland, OH $146,280

Las Vegas, NV $146,100

Cincinnati, OH $146,100

Petersburg, VA $145,880

Huntsville, AL $145,650

Lansing, MI $145,550

Lebanon, PA $145,530

Pueblo, CO $145,520

Appleton, WI $145,470

Buffalo, NY $145,410

Dayton, OH $145,370

Racine, WI $145,340

Charlotte, NC $145,320

Saint Louis, MO $145,280

York, PA $145,190

Elkhart, IN $145,190

Gastonia, NC $145,160

Billings, MT $145,120

Beaumont, TX $145,080

Lorain, OH $145,050

Benton Harbor, MI $145,020

Toledo, OH $144,990

Binghamton, NY $144,920

Rock Hill, SC $144,900

Rockford, IL $144,830

Springfield, IL $144,770

Elyria, OH $144,750

Fargo, ND $144,750

Flagstaff, AZ $144,650

Fort Lauderdale, FL $144,560

Duluth, MN $144,470

Miami, FL $144,470

Cheyenne, WY $144,360

Grand Forks, ND $144,360

Bangor, ME $144,030

Cedar Rapids, IA $143,860

Durham, NC $143,800

Louisville, KY $143,790

Grand Rapids, MI $143,760

Hialeah, FL $143,740

Casper, WY $143,530

Scranton, PA $143,350

New Orleans, LA $143,310

Virginia Beach, VA $143,290

Akron, OH $143,220

Peoria, IL $143,020

Sarasota, FL $142,990

Nashville, TN $142,890

Omaha, NE $142,890

Green Bay, WI $142,890

Baton Rouge, LA $142,810

Charleston, SC $142,780

Jamestown, NY $142,710

Davenport, IA $142,710

Tucson, AZ $142,630

Saint Petersburg, FL $142,540

Tampa, FL $142,510

Evansville, IN $142,420

Port Arthur, TX $142,420

Bradenton, FL $142,360

Santa Fe, NM $142,090

Orlando, FL $141,820

Clearwater, FL $141,770

Canton, OH $141,460

La Crosse, WI $141,460

Albuquerque, NM $141,370

Newport News, VA $141,350

High Point, NC $141,310

Ogden, UT $141,250

Corpus Christi, TX $141,130

Norfolk, VA $141,040

Laramie, WY $141,040

Rock Island, IL $140,950

Saginaw, MI $140,920

Jacksonville, FL $140,900

Salisbury, NC $140,870

Boise, ID $140,840

Moline, IL $140,770

Fort Myers, FL $140,720

Memphis, TN $140,690

Tulsa, OK $140,620

Waterloo, IA $140,530

Spartanburg, SC $140,380

Lincoln, NE $140,300

Fort Wayne, IN $140,270

Provo, UT $140,260

Cedar Falls, IA $140,070

San Antonio, TX $140,010

Greensboro, NC $139,950

South Bend, IN $139,940

Savannah, GA $139,770

Muskegon, MI $139,710

Birmingham, AL $139,700

Winston Salem, NC $139,630

Lake Charles, LA $139,260

Anderson, IN $139,230

Lexington, KY $139,190

Augusta, GA $139,140

Greenville, SC $139,140

Lima, OH $139,020

Wichita, KS $139,010

Tuscaloosa, AL $139,010

Columbia, SC $138,870

Springfield, OH $138,840

Asheville, NC $138,600

Bloomington, IN $138,500

Knoxville, TN $137,950

Shreveport, LA $137,940

Wilmington, NC $137,740

Roanoke, VA $137,740

Topeka, KS $137,470

Frankfort, KY $137,460

Oklahoma City, OK $137,350

Chillicothe, OH $137,290

Longview, TX $137,280

Melbourne, FL $137,260

Sioux Falls, SD $137,020

Mobile, AL $137,010

Terre Haute, IN $136,950

Altoona, PA $136,860

Amarillo, TX $136,750

Killeen, TX $136,710

Fayetteville, AR $136,590

Chattanooga, TN $136,540

Sioux City, IA $136,410

Idaho Falls, ID $136,380

Lynchburg, VA $136,260

Gainesville, FL $136,060

Portsmouth, OH $135,990

Little Rock, AR $135,960

Lafayette, LA $135,890

Youngstown, OH $135,890

Daytona Beach, FL $135,800

Clarksville, TN $135,790

Pensacola, FL $135,770

Temple, TX $135,760

Hopkinsville, KY $135,320

Erie, PA $135,290

Florence, SC $135,230

Charleston, WV $134,990

Great Falls, MT $134,920

Macon, GA $134,710

Tallahassee, FL $134,690

Fayetteville, NC $134,660

Waco, TX $134,630

Helena, MT $134,530

Pine Bluff, AR $134,470

Vincennes, IN $134,290

Lubbock, TX $134,230

Alamogordo, NM $134,140

Twin Falls, ID $134,000

Rapid City, SD $133,960

Jackson, MS $133,680

Greenville, MS $133,670

Huntington, WV $133,670

Parkersburg, WV $133,520

Montgomery, AL $133,490

Wichita Falls, TX $133,340

Springfield, MO $133,340

Biloxi, MS $133,260

Monroe, LA $133,110

Johnstown, PA $133,010

Sumter, SC $132,950

Columbus, GA $132,930

Pascagoula, MS $132,650

Abilene, TX $132,650

Kingsport, TN $132,260

Albany, GA $132,260

Gulfport, MS $132,210

Alexandria, LA $131,720

Fort Smith, AR $131,340

El Paso, TX $130,930

Las Cruces, NM $130,260

Harlingen, TX $129,870

Pocatello, ID $129,850

Florence, AL $129,660

Brownsville, TX $129,630

Mcallen, TX $129,310

Dothan, AL $129,100

Columbus, MS $128,210

Altus, OK $127,510

Lawton, OK $127,220

Pierre, SD $126,680

What Skills Can Increase a Master 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.

Skills	Demand Percentage
Analysis	3.85%
Scrum	2.79%
ISO	1.74%

See More Skills

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 a Master 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	$159,382	6%
Networking	$157,878	5%
Teamwork	$156,374	4%

Get Latest Data

Master Level Quality Assurance Engineer Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Master 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 $168,034. While startup companies pay approximate $142,139.

Master Level Quality Assurance Engineer Salary by Company Size

Company Size	Employees	Average Salary
Startup	1~50	$142,139
Growth Stage	51~500	$150,327
Established	501~5000	$162,258
Enterprise	5000+	$168,034

Master Level Quality Assurance Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Master 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, Master Level Quality Assurance Engineer positions in Transportation or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Master Level Quality Assurance Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Master Level Quality Assurance Engineer

Industry Sector	Average Annual Salary	Average Hourly Rate	Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services	$195,468	$94.0	30%
Biotechnology	$187,950	$90.0	25%
Pharmaceuticals	$180,432	$87.0	20%
Energy & Utilities	$172,914	$83.0	15%
Aerospace & Defense	$165,396	$80.0	10%

How Education impacts a Master Level Quality Assurance Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Master 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 a Master Level Quality Assurance Engineer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $151,093 and $157,753).

Master Level Quality Assurance Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

$160,100
$158,800
$157,500
$156,300
$155,000
$153,700
$152,400
$151,100

Typical Education for Master 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%

View as Graph

Master Level Quality Assurance Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Master 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.

$140,170

Average $150,360/year

$159,610

$11,681

Average $12,530/month

$13,301

$2,696

Average $2,892/week

$3,069

$67

Average $72/hour

$77

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$159,610	$13,301	$3,069	$77
Average	$150,360	$12,530	$2,892	$72
25th Percentile	$140,170	$11,681	$2,696	$67

Salary Trends for Master Level Quality Assurance Engineer

Salaries for a Master 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 Master Level Quality Assurance Engineer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Master Level Quality Assurance Engineer Over Time

$???
$145,351
$145,675
$143,683
$???
$???

2022
2023
2024
2025
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 Master Level Quality Assurance Engineer

Social Security
401 (k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Master Level Quality Assurance Engineer

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

C $128,509/per year

C R Bard Inc Biotechnology the United States

H $124,697/per year

Henry Schein Canada Biotechnology the United States

N $123,899/per year

Nordex Inc Biotechnology the United States

N $120,416/per year

Nipro Corp Biotechnology the United States

E $115,870/per year

Enovis Biotechnology the United States

A $114,553/per year

Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy Biotechnology the United States

M $112,110/per year

MiniMed Inc Biotechnology the United States

L $111,500/per year

Labcorp Drug Development Biotechnology the United States

L $110,229/per year

Life Technologies Corp Biotechnology the United States

Z $106,224/per year

Zimmer Biomet Biotechnology the United States

P $103,077/per year

Promontory Therapeutics Biotechnology the United States

S $102,181/per year

Steris PLC Biotechnology the United States

G $97,274/per year

Gavin Conferences Pty Ltd Biotechnology the United States

E $94,764/per year

Endeavor BioMedicines Biotechnology the United States

R $94,402/per year

Replay Holdings LLC Biotechnology the United States

P $94,235/per year

Pleno Inc Biotechnology the United States

S $93,666/per year

Simulaids Inc Biotechnology the United States

N $88,880/per year

NOIRLab/CAS Biotechnology the United States

O $86,468/per year

Onward Technology Biotechnology the United States

L $84,895/per year

LED Medical Diagnostics Inc Biotechnology the United States

E $84,682/per year

Eyeco Ltd Biotechnology the United States

P $84,523/per year

Paerosol Biotechnology the United States

I $83,525/per year

IONIQ Sciences Inc Biotechnology the United States

S $82,815/per year

Stateside PPE Biotechnology the United States

D $82,041/per year

Digi Bio Biotechnology the United States

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FAQ about Master Level Quality Assurance Engineer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Master Level Quality Assurance Engineer?

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

2. Which country pays highest salary for QA?

The highest salaries for Master Level Quality Assurance Engineers are found in the USA, with a range from $145,940 to $170,860 annually. This surpasses other countries, where average salaries vary significantly, such as Canada at $75,000 to $140,400 and Switzerland at $102,000 to $140,400. The USA remains a top destination for QA professionals.

3. What is the highest salary for a quality assurance engineer?

The highest salary for a Master Level Quality Assurance Engineer is $170,860 per year. The salary range for this position typically starts at $145,940, with a mid-level salary of $157,870.

4. Is QA engineer a good career?

QA engineering is a promising career choice. With a minimum salary of $145,940, a mid-range salary of $157,870, and a maximum salary of $170,860, it offers lucrative opportunities. The demand for skilled QA professionals continues to grow as industries increasingly rely on software, ensuring abundant job prospects and the chance for continuous learning in a dynamic field.

5. How much do QA engineers make in the USA?

The salary for a Master Level Quality Assurance Engineer in the USA ranges from $145,940 to $170,860, with a mid-salary of $157,870. This reflects the higher compensation typically associated with advanced expertise in the field, surpassing the average salaries reported for general QA Engineers.

6. What is the highest position in QA?

Titles such as 'QA Manager', 'Director of Quality Assurance', or 'VP of Quality' typically offer the highest salaries, ranging from a minimum of $145,940 to a maximum of $170,860, with a mid-salary of $157,870. These positions involve comprehensive oversight of QA processes, strategy implementation, and team management.

7. How much does a graduate quality assurance engineer earn?

As a Master Level Quality Assurance Engineer, you can expect to earn between $145,940 and $170,860 annually, with a mid-salary of approximately $157,870. This reflects a significant increase compared to entry-level positions, highlighting the value of advanced skills and experience in the field.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

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