As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a QA Manager in the United States is $128,490 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $62.
However, a QA Manager's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
QA Manager Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $141,290 | $11,774 | $2,717 | $68 |
| Average | $128,490 | $10,708 | $2,471 | $62 |
| 25th Percentile | $116,290 | $9,691 | $2,236 | $56 |
A QA Manager'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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of a QA Manager'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:
| Job Role | Years of Experience | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| QA Analyst IV | 7+ years | $125,906 |
| QA Analyst V | 7-10 years | $152,402 |
| QA Manager | 10+ years | $128,412 |
| Senior Manager of Quality Assurance | 10+ years | $162,603 |
| Director of Quality Assurance | 10+ years | $198,235 |
Demanded Skills for the Role:
| Skills | Demand Percentage |
|---|---|
| Leadership | 5.92% |
| Quality Management System | 2.61% |
| Root Cause Analysis | 1.28% |
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 QA Manager's salary.
| Skill | Salary | Salary % Increase |
|---|---|---|
| Oncology | $143,909 | |
| Collaboration | $133,630 | |
| Innovation | $133,630 |
QA Manager salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $143,593. While startup companies pay approximate $121,465.
| Company Size | Employees | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Startup | 1~50 | $121,465 |
| Growth Stage | 51~500 | $128,461 |
| Established | 501~5000 | $138,657 |
| Enterprise | 5000+ | $143,593 |
Understanding how a QA Manager'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.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $141,290 | $11,774 | $2,717 | $68 |
| Average | $128,490 | $10,708 | $2,471 | $62 |
| 25th Percentile | $116,290 | $9,691 | $2,236 | $56 |
Next Role
Advancement
For a QA Manager, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Senior Manager of Quality Assurance role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $162,700 - a projected growth of 27% over your current level.
Salaries for a QA Manager can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary increased from $110,130 in 2023 to around $110,186 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of QA Manager salary trends, .
| Year | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 2022 | View More |
| 2023 | $110,130 |
| 2024 | $110,715 |
| 2025 | $110,186 |
| 2026 |
View More
|
| 2027 |
View More
|
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The Telecom industry offers the highest average compensation for QA Manager roles, with salaries approximately 50% above the market median.
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