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Software QA Engineer III Salary in Java, SD

How much does a Software QA Engineer III make in Java, SD?

As of May 01, 2026, the average salary for a Software QA Engineer III in Java, SD is $104,500 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $50.

However, a Software QA Engineer III's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $115,199
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $96,700 to $110,100
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $89,599
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View as table View as graph 25% $96,700 10% $89,599 90% $115,199 75% $110,100 $104,500 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Software QA Engineer III Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $110,100 $9,175 $2,117 $53
Average $104,500 $8,708 $2,010 $50
25th Percentile $96,700 $8,058 $1,860 $46
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Key Factors That Influence Software QA Engineer III Salaries

A Software QA Engineer III'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, skills and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Software QA Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Software QA Engineer III'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:

  • Software QA Engineer I (0-2 years): $67,098
  • Software QA Engineer II (2-4 years): $86,120
  • Software QA Engineer III (4-7 years): $104,411
  • Software QA Engineer IV (7+ years): $120,570
  • Software QA Engineer V (7-10 years): $140,977
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Software QA Engineer I0-2 years$67,098
Software QA Engineer II2-4 years$86,120
Software QA Engineer III4-7 years$104,411
Software QA Engineer IV7+ years$120,570
Software QA Engineer V7-10 years$140,977
$67,098 Software ...
$86,120 Software ...
$104,411 Software ...
$120,570 Software ...
$140,977 Software ...
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Software QA Engineer IIIs

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: $143,600
  • San Francisco: $142,100
  • Oakland: $139,100

What Skills Can Increase a Software QA Engineer III's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 2.96% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Test Scripts (Mentioned in 3.27% Job Postings): A test script in software testing is a set of instructions that will be performed on the system under test to test that the system functions as expected. There are various means for executing test scripts. Manual testing. These are more commonly called test cases. Automated testing. Short program written in a programming language used to test part of the functionality of a software system. Test scripts written as a short program can either be written using a special automated functional GUI test tool (such as HP QuickTest Professional, Borland SilkTest, IBM TPNS and Rational Robot) or in a well-known programming language (such as C++, C#, Tcl, Expect, Java, PHP, Perl, Powershell, Python, or Ruby). As documented in IEEE, ISO and IEC. Extensively parameterized short programs a.k.a. Data-driven testing Reusable steps created in a table a.k.a. keyword-driven or table-driven testing.
  • Manual Testing (Mentioned in 2.25% Job Postings): Manual Testing is a type of software testing in which test cases are executed manually by a tester without using any automated tools. It refers to a test process in which a QA manually tests the software application in order to identify bugs.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 2.96%
Test Scripts 3.27%
Manual Testing 2.25%
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 Software QA Engineer III's salary.
  • Products and Services: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Innovation: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
  • Prioritization: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Products and Services
 $108,680
4%
Innovation
 $107,635
3%
Prioritization
 $107,635
3%
Teamwork
 $106,590
2%
Leadership
 $106,590
2%
Integrity
 $105,545
1%
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Software QA Engineer III Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Software QA Engineer III'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.

  • Yearly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Hourly
  • Table View
Last Updated on May 01, 2026
$96,700
Average $104,500/year
$110,100
$8,058
Average $8,708/month
$9,175
$1,860
Average $2,010/week
$2,117
$46
Average $50/hour
$53
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $110,100 $9,175 $2,117 $53
Average $104,500 $8,708 $2,010 $50
25th Percentile $96,700 $8,058 $1,860 $46

Software QA Engineer III Salary Growth & Career Path

Software QA Engineer III
Software QA Engineer IV
Software QA Director

For a Software QA Engineer III, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Software QA Engineer IV role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $120,600 - a projected growth of 15% over your current level.

Salaries of jobs related to Software QA Engineer III

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Cost of Living In Java, SD

Cost of Living in Java, SD is
-6.1% Lower
than the National Average

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