Salary AI Book a Demo
upper level job

QA/Validation Engineering Manager Salary in the United States

How much does a QA/Validation Engineering Manager make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a QA/Validation Engineering Manager in the United States is $131,700 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $63.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $140,870
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $119,400 to $136,500
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $108,201
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence QA/Validation Engineering Manager Salaries

A QA/Validation Engineering 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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects QA/Validation Engineering Manager Salaries?

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

  • Expert/Consultant 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
  • QA/Validation Engineering Manager, Senior (10+ years): $160,502
  • QA/Validation Engineering Director (10+ years): $195,923
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer7-10 years$150,354
QA/Validation Engineering Supervisor10+ years$112,622
QA/Validation Engineering Manager10+ years$131,640
QA/Validation Engineering Manager, Senior10+ years$160,502
QA/Validation Engineering Director10+ years$195,923
View as Graph

How Do QA/Validation Engineering Manager 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 Managers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $145,800.
  • California: $145,200.
  • Massachusetts: $143,300.

Top Paying Cities for QA/Validation Engineering Managers

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: $166,100
  • San Francisco: $164,300
  • Oakland: $160,800

What Skills Can Increase a QA/Validation Engineering Manager's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 8.15% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Continuous Improvement (Mentioned in 2.81% Job Postings): A continual improvement process, also often called a continuous improvement process (abbreviated as CIP or CI), is an ongoing effort to improve products, services, or processes. These efforts can seek "incremental" improvement over time or "breakthrough" improvement all at once. Delivery (customer valued) processes are constantly evaluated and improved in the light of their efficiency, effectiveness and flexibility. Some see CIPs as a meta-process for most management systems (such as business process management, quality management, project management, and program management). W. Edwards Deming, a pioneer of the field, saw it as part of the 'system' whereby feedback from the process and customer were evaluated against organisational goals. The fact that it can be called a management process does not mean that it needs to be executed by 'management'; but rather merely that it makes decisions about the implementation of the delivery process and the design of the delivery process itself.
  • Quality Management System (Mentioned in 1.47% Job Postings): Enforcing a set of policies and procedures in coordinating and directing an organization to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 8.15%
Continuous Improvement 2.81%
Quality Management System 1.47%
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 QA/Validation Engineering Manager's salary.

  • Partnering: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Standard Operating Procedures: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Operations Support: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Partnering $142,236
8%
Standard Operating Procedures $138,285
5%
Operations Support $138,285
5%
Get Latest Data

QA/Validation Engineering Manager Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

QA/Validation Engineering Manager salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $147,180. While startup companies pay approximate $124,499.

QA/Validation Engineering Manager Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $124,499
Growth Stage 51~500 $131,671
Established 501~5000 $142,121
Enterprise 5000+ $147,180

QA/Validation Engineering Manager Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For QA/Validation Engineering Manager roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 100% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Aerospace & Defense sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, QA/Validation Engineering Manager positions in Retail & Wholesale or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view QA/Validation Engineering Manager as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a QA/Validation Engineering Manager

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$197,550$95.050%

How Education impacts a QA/Validation Engineering Manager's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many QA/Validation Engineering Managers 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 QA/Validation Engineering Manager with a Bachelor's Degree is between $129,199 and $136,576).

QA/Validation Engineering Manager Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for QA/Validation Engineering Manager
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 3.7%
High School 9.5%
Associates 9.0%
Bachelors 40.2%
Masters 36.5%
Doctorate 1.1%
View as Graph

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

Understanding how a QA/Validation Engineering 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.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$119,400
Average $131,700/year
$136,500
$9,950
Average $10,975/month
$11,375
$2,296
Average $2,533/week
$2,625
$57
Average $63/hour
$66
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $136,500 $11,375 $2,625 $66
Average $131,700 $10,975 $2,533 $63
25th Percentile $119,400 $9,950 $2,296 $57

QA/Validation Engineering Manager Salary Growth & Career Path

QA/Validation Engineering Manager

Next Role

Advancement

For a QA/Validation Engineering Manager, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the QA/Validation Engineering Manager, Senior role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $160,600 - a projected growth of 22% over your current level.

Most common benefits for QA/Validation Engineering Manager

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

Common company salaries for QA/Validation Engineering Manager

Here are companies hiring for QA/Validation Engineering Manager and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next QA/Validation Engineering Manager Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current QA/Validation Engineering Manager job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about QA/Validation Engineering Manager

1. What industry pays the highest salary for QA/Validation Engineering Manager?

The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for QA/Validation Engineering Manager roles, with salaries approximately 50% above the market median.

2. What is the highest salary in QA?

The highest salary for a QA/Validation Engineering Manager is $148,600. The salary range for this position typically starts at a minimum of $122,500, with a mid-range salary of $136,600. This reflects the competitive nature of the QA field and the importance of quality assurance in various industries.

3. What is the highest salary for a validation engineer?

The highest salary for a QA/Validation Engineering Manager is $148,600 per year. In comparison, salaries for Validation Engineers in various cities can vary significantly, with Santa Clara, CA reporting around $129,435, while other cities like Austin, TX and Raleigh-Durham, NC show lower averages.

4. Are validation engineers in demand?

Validation Engineers are indeed in demand, with an anticipated increase of 35,600 new jobs by 2029. This growing need is reflected in competitive salaries, ranging from a minimum of $122,500 to a mid-level of $136,600, and reaching up to $148,600 for experienced professionals. The role is crucial in ensuring product quality and compliance in various industries.

5. 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 $122,500 to a maximum of $148,600. These positions involve comprehensive oversight of QA processes, strategy implementation, and team management, with a mid-salary around $136,600 reflecting their critical role in ensuring quality standards.

6. How much do validation engineers make per hour?

Validation Engineers can expect a salary range of approximately €122,500 to €148,600 annually, with a midpoint of around €136,600. This translates to an hourly rate of about €58.85 to €71.43, depending on experience and specific role responsibilities. This data reflects current market trends for QA/Validation Engineering Managers.

7. Is QA in demand in USA?

Yes, QA roles are in high demand in the USA. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) forecasts a 17% job growth for QA testers from 2023 to 2033, equating to approximately 327,900 new jobs. Salaries for QA/Validation Engineering Managers range from $122,500 to $148,600, with a median salary of $136,600, reflecting the importance of this role in various industries.

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.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst
lower level job