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Quality Assurance Engineer - Project Lead Salary in the United States

How much does a Quality Assurance Engineer - Project Lead make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Quality Assurance Engineer - Project Lead in the United States is $125,330 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $60.

However, a Quality Assurance Engineer - Project Lead's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $139,162
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $115,580 to $132,570
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $106,703

Key Factors That Influence Quality Assurance Engineer - Project Lead Salaries

A Quality Assurance Engineer - Project Lead'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 Quality Assurance Engineer - Project Lead Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Quality Assurance Engineer - Project Lead'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:

  • Intermediate Quality Assurance Engineer (2-4 years): $89,079
  • QA/Validation Engineer III (4-7 years): $100,754
  • Quality Assurance Engineer - Project Lead (7+ years): $125,321
  • Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer (7-10 years): $150,354
  • QA/Validation Engineering Supervisor (10+ years): $112,622
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Intermediate Quality Assurance Engineer2-4 years$89,079
QA/Validation Engineer III4-7 years$100,754
Quality Assurance Engineer - Project Lead7+ years$125,321
Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer7-10 years$150,354
QA/Validation Engineering Supervisor10+ years$112,622

Top Paying Cities for Quality Assurance Engineer - Project Leads

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: $158,070
  • San Francisco: $156,340
  • Oakland: $153,050

What Skills Can Increase a Quality Assurance Engineer - Project Lead's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 2.72% 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 2.77% Job Postings): Using an agile process for managing the lifecycle development of software products.
  • Virtualization (Mentioned in 2.13% Job Postings): In computing, virtualization refers to the act of creating a virtual (rather than actual) version of something, including virtual computer hardware platforms, storage devices, and computer network resources. Virtualization began in the 1960s, as a method of logically dividing the system resources provided by mainframe computers between different applications. Since then, the meaning of the term has broadened.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 2.72%
Scrum 2.77%
Virtualization 2.13%

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 Quality Assurance Engineer - Project Lead's salary.

  • Authenticity: Can increase your salary by up to 17%.
  • iOS: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Authenticity $146,636
17%
iOS $134,103
7%
Consulting $132,850
6%

Quality Assurance Engineer - Project Lead Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Quality Assurance Engineer - Project Lead salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $140,061. While startup companies pay approximate $118,478.

Quality Assurance Engineer - Project Lead Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $118,478
Growth Stage 51~500 $125,302
Established 501~5000 $135,247
Enterprise 5000+ $140,061

Quality Assurance Engineer - Project Lead Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Quality Assurance Engineer - Project Lead roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 80% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Healthcare and Aerospace & Defense sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Quality Assurance Engineer - Project Lead positions in Hospitality & Leisure or MFG Nondurable typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Quality Assurance Engineer - Project Lead as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Quality Assurance Engineer - Project Lead

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$175,462$84.040%
Aerospace & Defense$162,929$78.030%
Pharmaceuticals$162,929$78.030%
Financial Services$150,396$72.020%
Software & Networking$150,396$72.020%

How Education impacts a Quality Assurance Engineer - Project Lead's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Quality Assurance Engineer - Project Leads 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 Quality Assurance Engineer - Project Lead with a Bachelor's Degree is between $122,583 and $128,670).

Quality Assurance Engineer - Project Lead Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Quality Assurance Engineer - Project Lead
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 3.3%
High School 3.3%
Associates 5.3%
Bachelors 50.0%
Masters 40.1%
Doctorate 1.3%

Quality Assurance Engineer - Project Lead Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Quality Assurance Engineer - Project Lead'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
$115,580
Average $125,330/year
$132,570
$9,632
Average $10,444/month
$11,048
$2,223
Average $2,410/week
$2,549
$56
Average $60/hour
$64
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $132,570 $11,048 $2,549 $64
Average $125,330 $10,444 $2,410 $60
25th Percentile $115,580 $9,632 $2,223 $56

Quality Assurance Engineer - Project Lead Salary Growth & Career Path

For a Quality Assurance Engineer - Project Lead, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $150,400 - a projected growth of 20% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Quality Assurance Engineer - Project Lead

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

Common company salaries for Quality Assurance Engineer - Project Lead

Here are companies hiring for Quality Assurance Engineer - Project Lead and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Quality Assurance Engineer - Project Lead

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Quality Assurance Engineer - Project Lead?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Quality Assurance Engineer - Project Lead roles, with salaries approximately 40% above the market median.

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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