What are the main factors that influence a QA/Validation Engineering Director's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change A QA/Validation Engineering Director's salary?

A QA/Validation Engineering Director's salary grows with experience: an Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer (7-10 years)earns $166,463, a QA/Validation Engineering Supervisor (10+ years)earns $124,701, a QA/Validation Engineering Manager (10+ years)earns $145,785, a QA/Validation Engineering Manager, Senior (10+ years)earns $177,747, a QA/Validation Engineering Director (10+ years)earns $216,920,

What are the highest paying states for a QA/Validation Engineering Director?

QA/Validation Engineering Director salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for QA/Validation Engineering Director roles are District of Columbia $217,000, California $216,100, Massachusetts $213,300. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of QA/Validation Engineering Director roles make?

Salaries for QA/Validation Engineering Director level roles vary by specialization: Software Engineering Director: $214,146; Embedded Software Engineering Director: $212,227; Engineering Program Management Director: $210,036; Medical Device Engineering Director: $206,061; Chemical Engineering Director: $201,456.

QA/Validation Engineering Director Salary in District of Columbia

How much does a QA/Validation Engineering Director make in District of Columbia?

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for a QA/Validation Engineering Director in District of Columbia is $217,000 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $104.

However, a QA/Validation Engineering Director's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

Top Earners (90th percentile): $244,701
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $203,400 to $231,500
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $191,018

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QA/Validation Engineering Director Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$231,500	$19,292	$4,452	$111
Average	$217,000	$18,083	$4,173	$104
25th Percentile	$203,400	$16,950	$3,912	$98

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Key Factors That Influence QA/Validation Engineering Director Salaries

A QA/Validation Engineering Director'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.

How Experience Level Affects QA/Validation Engineering Director Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a QA/Validation Engineering Director'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:

Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer (7-10 years): $166,463
QA/Validation Engineering Supervisor (10+ years): $124,701
QA/Validation Engineering Manager (10+ years): $145,785
QA/Validation Engineering Manager, Senior (10+ years): $177,747
QA/Validation Engineering Director (10+ years): $216,920

Job Role	Years of Experience	Average Salary
Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer	7-10 years	$166,463
QA/Validation Engineering Supervisor	10+ years	$124,701
QA/Validation Engineering Manager	10+ years	$145,785
QA/Validation Engineering Manager, Senior	10+ years	$177,747
QA/Validation Engineering Director	10+ years	$216,920

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What Am I Worth?

How Do QA/Validation Engineering Director 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 QA/Validation Engineering Directors. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $217,000.
California: $216,100.
Massachusetts: $213,300.

District of Columbia $217,000 California $216,100 Massachusetts $213,300 Washington $212,500 New Jersey $212,400 Alaska $212,100 Connecticut $209,400 New York $208,300

Hawaii $204,800 Rhode Island $203,200 Maryland $202,100 Minnesota $200,500 Colorado $199,900 Illinois $199,700 Oregon $199,000 Delaware $198,500

New Hampshire $198,100 Virginia $197,300 Pennsylvania $195,100 Nevada $194,000 North Dakota $193,600 Michigan $193,000 Wisconsin $192,800 Vermont $192,300

Maine $191,100 Texas $191,100 Arizona $191,000 Ohio $190,800 Georgia $189,000 Indiana $188,100 Wyoming $187,900 Utah $187,700

Iowa $187,500 Kansas $186,600 Louisiana $186,300 Missouri $186,200 North Carolina $186,200 Florida $185,400 Montana $185,000 Nebraska $184,600

Kentucky $184,400 South Carolina $183,600 Tennessee $183,100 Idaho $182,900 New Mexico $181,500 Oklahoma $181,200 Alabama $180,000 South Dakota $178,100

Arkansas $177,000 West Virginia $176,500 Mississippi $174,800

Top Paying Cities for QA/Validation Engineering Directors

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:

Parcel Return Service: $217,000
Washington: $217,000
Naval Anacost Annex: $217,000

Parcel Return Service, DC $217,000 Washington, DC $217,000 Naval Anacost Annex, DC $217,000 Washington Navy Yard, DC $217,000

QA/Validation Engineering Director Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a QA/Validation Engineering Director'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.

Last Updated on April 01, 2026

$203,400

Average $217,000/year

$231,500

$16,950

Average $18,083/month

$19,292

$3,912

Average $4,173/week

$4,452

$98

Average $104/hour

$111

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$231,500	$19,292	$4,452	$111
Average	$217,000	$18,083	$4,173	$104
25th Percentile	$203,400	$16,950	$3,912	$98

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