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Software Testing and Quality Senior Manager Salary in the United States

How much does a Software Testing and Quality Senior Manager make in the United States?

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Software Testing and Quality Senior Manager in the United States is $166,340 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $80.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $188,807
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $153,060 to $178,100
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $140,969
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View as table View as graph 25% $153,060 10% $140,969 90% $188,807 75% $178,100 $166,340 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Software Testing and Quality Senior Manager Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $178,100 $14,842 $3,425 $86
Average $166,340 $13,862 $3,199 $80
25th Percentile $153,060 $12,755 $2,943 $74
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Key Factors That Influence Software Testing and Quality Senior Manager Salaries

A Software Testing and Quality Senior 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, and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Software Testing and Quality Senior Manager Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Software Testing and Quality Senior 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:

  • Software QA Engineer VI (10-12 years): $176,632
  • Software Testing and Quality Supervisor (12+ years): $120,603
  • Software QA Manager (12+ years): $137,641
  • Software Testing and Quality Senior Manager (12+ years): $166,338
  • Software QA Director (12+ years): $191,208
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Software QA Engineer VI10-12 years$176,632
Software Testing and Quality Supervisor12+ years$120,603
Software QA Manager12+ years$137,641
Software Testing and Quality Senior Manager12+ years$166,338
Software QA Director12+ years$191,208
$176,632 Software ...
$120,603 Software ...
$137,641 Software ...
$166,338 Software ...
$191,208 Software ...
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Software Testing and Quality Senior 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: $209,810
  • San Francisco: $207,510
  • Oakland: $203,140

What Skills Can Increase a Software Testing and Quality Senior Manager's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 14.6% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Performance Testing (Mentioned in 2.19% Job Postings): Software performance testing, a procedure to determine how a system performs under a particular workload. In software quality assurance, performance testing is in general a testing practice performed to determine how a system performs in terms of responsiveness and stability under a particular workload. It can also serve to investigate, measure, validate or verify other quality attributes of the system, such as scalability, reliability and resource usage. Performance testing, a subset of performance engineering, is a computer science practice which strives to build performance standards into the implementation, design and architecture of a system.
  • DevOps (Mentioned in 1.46% Job Postings): Automating and integrating the efforts of IT operations and development teams to deliver software applications faster.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 14.6%
Performance Testing 2.19%
DevOps 1.46%
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 Testing and Quality Senior Manager's salary.
  • Resource Allocation: Can increase your salary by up to 28%.
  • System Testing: Can increase your salary by up to 26%.
  • Goal Setting: Can increase your salary by up to 22%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Resource Allocation
 $212,915
28%
System Testing
 $209,588
26%
Goal Setting
 $202,935
22%
Results Oriented
 $192,954
16%
Networking
 $189,628
14%
SQL Server
 $179,647
8%
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Software Testing and Quality Senior Manager Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Software Testing and Quality Senior Manager salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $186,050. While startup companies pay approximate $157,343.

Software Testing and Quality Senior Manager Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup1~50$157,343
Growth Stage51~500$166,414
Established501~5000$179,667
Enterprise5000+$186,050

Software Testing and Quality Senior Manager Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Software Testing and Quality Senior Manager roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Internet sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Software Testing and Quality Senior Manager positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Software Testing and Quality Senior Manager as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Software Testing and Quality Senior Manager

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$199,608$96.020%
Internet$196,281$94.018%
Pharmaceuticals$191,291$92.015%
Biotechnology$186,301$90.012%
Financial Services$182,974$88.010%

Software Testing and Quality Senior Manager Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Software Testing and Quality Senior 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 July 01, 2026
$153,060
Average $166,340/year
$178,100
$12,755
Average $13,862/month
$14,842
$2,943
Average $3,199/week
$3,425
$74
Average $80/hour
$86
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $178,100 $14,842 $3,425 $86
Average $166,340 $13,862 $3,199 $80
25th Percentile $153,060 $12,755 $2,943 $74

Software Testing and Quality Senior Manager Salary Growth & Career Path

Software Testing and Quality Senior Manager
Software QA Director

For a Software Testing and Quality Senior Manager, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Software QA Director role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $191,210 - a projected growth of 15% over your current level.

Salaries of jobs related to Software Testing and Quality Senior Manager

Salary Trends for Software Testing and Quality Senior Manager

Salaries for a Software Testing and Quality Senior Manager can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $151,370 in 2023 to around $150,044 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Software Testing and Quality Senior Manager salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Software Testing and Quality Senior Manager Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$151,370
2024
$150,964
2025
$150,044
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $151,370
2024 $150,964
2025 $150,044
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Software Testing and Quality Senior Manager

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Software Testing and Quality Senior Manager

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FAQ about Software Testing and Quality Senior Manager

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Software Testing and Quality Senior Manager?

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Software Testing and Quality Senior Manager roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

2. How much QA is paid in USA?

The average salary for a Software Quality and Testing Methodologies Director in the USA ranges from $162,000 to $192,220, with a mid-salary of $176,010. This reflects the higher level of responsibility and expertise required for this role compared to a typical QA Analyst position.

3. What is the salary of Director of Software Engineering in USA?

The salary for a Director of Software Quality and Testing Methodologies in the US ranges from $162,000 to $192,220, with a mid-salary of $176,010. Additional cash compensation may vary, but specific figures for this role are not provided.

4. How much do QA testers make in the US?

How much do QA testers make? The average salary for Software Quality and Testing Methodologies Directors in the US ranges from $162,000 to $192,220, with a mid-salary of $176,010. This reflects the higher level of responsibility and expertise required for this role compared to standard QA testers.

5. Which software tester has highest salary?

The highest paying job for a Software Quality and Testing Methodologies Director has a salary range from $162,000 to $192,220, with a mid-salary of $176,010. This role typically commands a competitive salary compared to other positions in software testing, reflecting the expertise and leadership required in this field.

6. How much does a director of quality make in the US?

In the US, a Software Quality and Testing Methodologies Director typically earns between $162,000 and $192,220 annually, with a mid-salary of around $176,010. This reflects a competitive compensation range for this role, aligning with industry standards for experienced professionals in quality assurance and testing.

7. How much does Apple pay software engineer in test?

At Apple, a Software Quality and Testing Methodologies Director can expect a salary ranging from $162,000 to $192,220, with a midpoint of $176,010. This reflects competitive compensation in the industry, aligning with the high demand for skilled professionals in software testing and quality assurance.

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.)

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