Know your market value with insights across roles — from individual contributors to executive pay and overall company compensation trends.
Access a suite of powerful calculators to make data-driven career decisions.
Automate pay cycles, manage job architectures, and ensure pay equity with AI-powered compensation platforms.
Access validated salary benchmarks, labor market trends, and minimum wage data to stay competitive.
Participate in and purchase industry-specific salary surveys to obtain the most accurate, peer-reported pay data.
As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Software QA Engineer I in Virginia is $73,700 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $35.
However, a Software QA Engineer I's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
Smart Recruiting
AI-Powered HR
Software QA Engineer I Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $78,900 | $6,575 | $1,517 | $38 |
| Average | $73,700 | $6,142 | $1,417 | $35 |
| 25th Percentile | $68,400 | $5,700 | $1,315 | $33 |
Pioneering Evolution LLC - Arlington, VA
Sparks Group - McLean, VA
Falls Technology - Chantilly, VA
OCH Technologies LLC - Leesburg, VA
A Software QA Engineer I'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.
Experience is a primary driver of a Software QA Engineer I'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:
| Job Role | Years of Experience | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Software QA Engineer I | 0-2 years | $73,678 |
| Software QA Engineer II | 2-4 years | $94,552 |
| Software QA Engineer III | 4-7 years | $114,629 |
| Software QA Engineer IV | 7+ years | $132,378 |
| Software QA Engineer V | 7-10 years | $154,842 |
What Am I Worth?
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 Software QA Engineer Is. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
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:
Software QA Engineer I salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $82,503. While startup companies pay approximate $69,796.
| Company Size | Employees | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Startup | 1~50 | $69,796 |
| Growth Stage | 51~500 | $73,817 |
| Established | 501~5000 | $79,671 |
| Enterprise | 5000+ | $82,503 |
For Software QA Engineer I roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 110% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Pharmaceuticals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, Software QA Engineer positions in Transportation or Telecom typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Software QA Engineer I as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software & Networking | $110,550 | $53.0 | 50% |
| Pharmaceuticals | $92,125 | $44.0 | 25% |
| Financial Services | $88,440 | $43.0 | 20% |
| Energy & Utilities | $84,755 | $41.0 | 15% |
| Biotechnology | $81,070 | $39.0 | 10% |
Understanding how a Software QA Engineer I'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.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $78,900 | $6,575 | $1,517 | $38 |
| Average | $73,700 | $6,142 | $1,417 | $35 |
| 25th Percentile | $68,400 | $5,700 | $1,315 | $33 |
For a Software QA Engineer I, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Software QA Engineer II role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $94,600 - a projected growth of 28% over your current level.
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Software QA Engineer I job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
10Pearls - United States
Tysons Corner, VA
10Pearls - United States | Tysons Corner, VA
Job Description. Job Description. What You'll Do. Testing & Quality Assurance. Develop and execute test plans and test cases for Amazon Connect contact flo... more
7 Days Ago
Vamonos IT
Ashburn, VA
Vamonos IT | Ashburn, VA
Job Description. Job Description. Job Title. Application Engineer / QA Analyst – Microsoft Intune & Mobile Device Management. Location. Remote work authori... more
8 Days Ago
E-volve Technology Systems, Inc.
Reston, VA
E-volve Technology Systems, Inc. | Reston, VA
Job Description. Job Description. Position Description. E-volve Technology Systems, Inc. is hiring a Software Tester to work in support of an Intelligence ... more
9 Days Ago
DANE LLC
Arlington, VA
DANE LLC | Arlington, VA
Job Description. Job Description. Benefits. 401(k). Employee discounts. Paid time off. 401(k) matching. Health insurance. Tuition assistance. Vision insura... more
10 Days Ago
Staffing the Universe
Arlington, VA
Staffing the Universe | Arlington, VA
Qa Automation EngineerArlington VA Contract No third partySkills:Strong Java Coding and API Experience Required Skills 7 - 10 years of hands-on experience ... more
8 Days Ago
Stealth Solutions, Inc.
Sterling, VA
Stealth Solutions, Inc. | Sterling, VA
Job Description. Job Description. Benefits. 401(k). 401(k) matching. Health insurance. Paid time off. Position Overview. Stealth Solutions Inc. is seeking ... more
8 Days Ago
Get a Salary Increase
Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.
Search Job Openings
Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.
Adjust Employee Salary
Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.
Price My Industry Jobs
Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.
Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.
Explore Cost of Living CalculatorSalary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.
Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.
Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:
