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Quality Assurance Testing Model Manager Salary in the United States

How much does a Quality Assurance Testing Model Manager make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Quality Assurance Testing Model Manager in the United States is $131,640 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $63.

However, a Quality Assurance Testing Model Manager's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $140,772
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $119,360 to $136,420
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $108,180

Key Factors That Influence Quality Assurance Testing Model Manager Salaries

A Quality Assurance Testing Model 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 Quality Assurance Testing Model Manager Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Quality Assurance Testing Model 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
  • Quality Assurance Testing Model 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
Quality Assurance Testing Model Manager10+ years$131,640
QA/Validation Engineering Manager, Senior10+ years$160,502
QA/Validation Engineering Director10+ years$195,923

Top Paying Cities for Quality Assurance Testing Model 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: $166,040
  • San Francisco: $164,220
  • Oakland: $160,760

What Skills Can Increase a Quality Assurance Testing Model 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%

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 Testing Model 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 $142,171
8%
Standard Operating Procedures $138,222
5%
Operations Support $138,222
5%

Quality Assurance Testing Model Manager Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Quality Assurance Testing Model Manager salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $147,113. While startup companies pay approximate $124,443.

Quality Assurance Testing Model Manager Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $124,443
Growth Stage 51~500 $131,611
Established 501~5000 $142,057
Enterprise 5000+ $147,113

Quality Assurance Testing Model Manager Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Quality Assurance Testing Model 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, Quality Assurance Testing Model Manager positions in Retail & Wholesale or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Quality Assurance Testing Model Manager as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Quality Assurance Testing Model Manager

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$197,460$95.050%

How Education impacts a Quality Assurance Testing Model Manager's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Quality Assurance Testing Model 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 Quality Assurance Testing Model Manager with a Bachelor's Degree is between $129,166 and $136,550).

Quality Assurance Testing Model Manager Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Quality Assurance Testing Model 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%

Quality Assurance Testing Model Manager Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Quality Assurance Testing Model 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
$119,360
Average $131,640/year
$136,420
$9,947
Average $10,970/month
$11,368
$2,295
Average $2,532/week
$2,623
$57
Average $63/hour
$66
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $136,420 $11,368 $2,623 $66
Average $131,640 $10,970 $2,532 $63
25th Percentile $119,360 $9,947 $2,295 $57

Quality Assurance Testing Model Manager Salary Growth & Career Path

For a Quality Assurance Testing Model 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 Quality Assurance Testing Model Manager

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

Common company salaries for Quality Assurance Testing Model Manager

Here are companies hiring for Quality Assurance Testing Model Manager and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Quality Assurance Testing Model Manager

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Quality Assurance Testing Model Manager?

The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for Quality Assurance Testing Model Manager roles, with salaries approximately 50% above the market median.

2. What does a QA manager earn?

A Quality Assurance Testing Model Manager typically earns between $122,450 and $148,570 annually, with a median salary of around $136,560. This reflects the competitive nature of the role, emphasizing the importance of quality assurance in various industries.

3. Is Quality Assurance a high paying job?

Quality Assurance roles can be quite lucrative, especially for positions like a Quality Assurance Testing Model Manager. The salary range for this role is between $122,450 and $148,570, with a mid-salary of $136,560. This indicates that Quality Assurance can indeed be a high-paying job, particularly at the managerial level.

4. What is the basic salary of a QA tester?

The salary range for a Quality Assurance Testing Model Manager is between $122,450 and $148,570 annually, with a midpoint of $136,560. This reflects the competitive nature of the role, emphasizing the importance of experience and expertise in the field.

5. How much do quality managers make in the US?

As of now, the salary for a Quality Assurance Testing Model Manager in the United States ranges from $122,450 to $148,570 annually, with a median salary of $136,560. This translates to approximately $58.85 to $71.42 per hour, or about $10,204 to $12,381 monthly.

6. What is the highest position in QA?

A QA Lead is the pinnacle position in the QA career path. This role involves significant management responsibilities and requires expertise in the field. The salary for a QA Lead typically ranges from $122,450 to $148,570, with a midpoint of $136,560, reflecting the importance and complexity of the role in ensuring quality assurance processes are effectively managed.

7. What is the highest salary of quality manager?

The highest salary for a Quality Assurance Testing Model Manager is $148,570 per year. Typically, salaries range from a minimum of $122,450 to a mid-level of $136,560, reflecting the varying experience and expertise within the role.

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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