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QA/Validation Engineering Manager Salary in the United States

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

As of January 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
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View as table View as graph 25% $119,400 10% $108,201 90% $140,870 75% $136,500 $131,700 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

QA/Validation Engineering Manager Salaries by Percentile

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
Check out QA/Validation Engineering Manager Job Openings in the United States
Manufacturing Engineering Technician

Marvin - WARROAD, MN

Manufacturing Engineering Technician

Marvin - GRAND FORKS, ND

Manufacturing Engineering Technician

Marvin - SIOUX FALLS, SD

Manufacturing Engineering Technician

Marvin - OMAHA, NE

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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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $127,110
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $127,661
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $128,579
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $130,415
  • Expert (over 8 years): $132,918
Levels Salary
Entry Level QA/Validation Engineering Manager$127,110
Intermediate Level QA/Validation Engineering Manager$127,661
Senior Level QA/Validation Engineering Manager$128,579
Specialist Level QA/Validation Engineering Manager$130,415
Expert Level QA/Validation Engineering Manager$132,918
$127,110 0 yr
$127,661 < 2 yrs
$128,579 2-4 yrs
$130,415 5-8 yrs
$132,918 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

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: $164,500
  • Oakland: $160,900

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.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 8.15%
Continuous Improvement 2.81%
Quality Management System 1.47%
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%
Program Management
 $136,968
4%
VMware
 $136,968
4%
Test Plans
 $135,651
3%
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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%
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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.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on January 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
QA/Validation Engineering Manager, Senior
QA/Validation Engineering Director

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.

Salaries of jobs related to QA/Validation Engineering Manager

Salary Trends for QA/Validation Engineering Manager

Salaries for a QA/Validation Engineering Manager can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $131,619 in 2023 to around $130,921 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of QA/Validation Engineering Manager salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of QA/Validation Engineering Manager Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$131,619
2024
$131,717
2025
$130,921
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $131,619
2024 $131,717
2025 $130,921
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for QA/Validation Engineering Manager

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

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FAQ about QA/Validation Engineering Manager

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

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