Software Quality Testing Specialist III Salary in the United States
How much does a Software Quality Testing Specialist III make in the United States?
As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Software Quality Testing Specialist III in the United States is $64,800 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $31.
However, a Software Quality Testing Specialist III's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $75,116
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $58,900 to $70,200
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $53,528
10%$53,528
50% (Median)$64,800
90%$75,116
Software Quality Testing Specialist III Salaries by Percentile
Key Factors That Influence Software Quality Testing Specialist III Salaries
A Software Quality Testing Specialist 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
and company size
can directly affect your earning potential.
How Experience Level Affects Software Quality Testing Specialist Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Software Quality Testing Specialist 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 Quality Testing Specialist I (0-1 years): $47,828
Software Quality Testing Specialist II (1-3 years): $54,246
Software Quality Testing Specialist III (3-5 years): $64,704
Software Quality Testing Specialist IV (5-7 years): $72,707
Software Testing and Quality Supervisor (7+ years): $120,596
How Do Software Quality Testing Specialist III Salaries Vary from State to State?
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 Quality Testing Specialist IIIs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
District of Columbia: $71,700.
California: $71,400.
Massachusetts: $70,500.
District of Columbia$71,700
California$71,400
Massachusetts$70,500
Washington$70,200
New Jersey$70,200
Alaska$70,100
Connecticut$69,200
New York$68,800
Hawaii$67,700
Rhode Island$67,100
Maryland$66,800
Minnesota$66,300
Colorado$66,100
Illinois$66,000
Oregon$65,800
Delaware$65,600
New Hampshire$65,500
Virginia$65,200
Pennsylvania$64,500
Nevada$64,100
North Dakota$64,000
Michigan$63,800
Wisconsin$63,700
Vermont$63,600
Texas$63,200
Ohio$63,100
Maine$63,100
Arizona$63,100
Georgia$62,500
Indiana$62,200
Wyoming$62,100
Utah$62,000
Iowa$62,000
Kansas$61,700
Louisiana$61,600
North Carolina$61,500
Missouri$61,500
Florida$61,300
Montana$61,100
Nebraska$61,000
Kentucky$60,900
South Carolina$60,700
Tennessee$60,500
Idaho$60,500
New Mexico$60,000
Oklahoma$59,900
Alabama$59,500
South Dakota$58,900
Arkansas$58,500
West Virginia$58,300
Mississippi$57,800
Top Paying Cities for Software Quality Testing Specialist 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: $81,700
San Francisco: $80,800
Oakland: $79,100
San Jose, CA$81,700
San Francisco, CA$80,800
Oakland, CA$79,100
New York, NY$74,500
Paramus, NJ$73,600
Queens Village, NY$73,600
Passaic, NJ$73,600
Bergenfield, NJ$73,600
Huntington, NY$73,400
Stamford, CT$73,400
Newark, NJ$72,900
Bridgeport, CT$72,800
Vallejo, CA$72,700
New Brunswick, NJ$72,600
Petaluma, CA$72,600
Middlesex, NJ$72,500
Somerset, NJ$72,400
Santa Cruz, CA$72,300
Boston, MA$71,900
Monterey, CA$71,700
Seattle, WA$71,600
Santa Rosa, CA$71,600
Los Angeles, CA$71,500
Juneau, AK$71,400
Washington, DC$71,300
Orange, CA$71,100
Santa Ana, CA$70,900
Anchorage, AK$70,800
Anaheim, CA$70,800
Long Beach, CA$70,800
Santa Maria, CA$70,600
Everett, WA$70,600
Danbury, CT$70,400
Bremerton, WA$70,300
Tacoma, WA$70,000
New Suffolk, NY$70,000
Sacramento, CA$70,000
Trenton, NJ$69,900
San Diego, CA$69,900
Santa Barbara, CA$69,900
Brockton, MA$69,800
Fairbanks, AK$69,600
Lompoc, CA$69,500
Lowell, MA$69,400
Ventura, CA$69,400
Nashua, NH$69,400
Stockton, CA$69,400
Modesto, CA$68,900
Poughkeepsie, NY$68,800
Kennewick, WA$68,700
Olympia, WA$68,700
New Haven, CT$68,600
Lawrence, MA$68,400
Hartford, CT$68,300
Riverside, CA$68,300
New Bedford, MA$68,300
Richland, WA$68,300
Bakersfield, CA$68,200
Portsmouth, NH$68,100
Norwich, CT$68,100
New London, CT$68,100
San Bernardino, CA$68,100
New Britain, CT$68,100
Atlantic City, NJ$68,100
Boulder, CO$67,900
Portland, OR$67,800
Worcester, MA$67,800
Minneapolis, MN$67,600
Philadelphia, PA$67,500
Honolulu, HI$67,300
Saint Paul, MN$67,300
Vineland, NJ$67,300
Providence, RI$67,100
Chicago, IL$66,900
Baltimore, MD$66,800
Bellingham, WA$66,800
Springfield, MA$66,800
Chico, CA$66,600
Pittsfield, MA$66,400
Manchester, NH$66,300
Spokane, WA$66,000
Denver, CO$66,000
Albany, NY$65,700
Troy, NY$65,700
Nassau, NY$65,600
Schenectady, NY$65,500
Wilmington, DE$65,500
Salem, OR$65,400
Burlington, VT$65,400
Portland, ME$65,200
Yakima, WA$65,100
Rochester, MN$64,900
Reno, NV$64,900
Fresno, CA$64,900
Milwaukee, WI$64,800
Detroit, MI$64,800
Allentown, PA$64,700
Ann Arbor, MI$64,700
Colorado Springs, CO$64,600
Syracuse, NY$64,600
Carson City, NV$64,600
Houston, TX$64,500
Eugene, OR$64,500
Gary, IN$64,400
Galveston, TX$64,300
Bismarck, ND$64,300
Springfield, OR$64,300
Medford, OR$64,200
Fort Collins, CO$64,200
Concord, NH$64,100
Austin, TX$64,100
Mesa, AZ$64,000
Reading, PA$64,000
Phoenix, AZ$64,000
Saint Cloud, MN$63,900
Dallas, TX$63,900
Madison, WI$63,800
Utica, NY$63,600
Rochester, NY$63,500
Des Moines, IA$63,500
Raleigh, NC$63,500
Atlanta, GA$63,400
Battle Creek, MI$63,400
Salt Lake City, UT$63,400
Lancaster, PA$63,300
Harrisburg, PA$63,200
Boca Raton, FL$63,100
Columbus, OH$63,100
Fort Worth, TX$63,100
Kansas City, MO$63,100
Kansas City, KS$63,100
Champaign, IL$63,100
Indianapolis, IN$63,000
Pittsburgh, PA$63,000
Richmond, VA$63,000
Cleveland, OH$63,000
Cincinnati, OH$62,900
Las Vegas, NV$62,900
Petersburg, VA$62,800
Huntsville, AL$62,700
Lansing, MI$62,700
Lebanon, PA$62,700
Pueblo, CO$62,700
Appleton, WI$62,700
Racine, WI$62,600
Buffalo, NY$62,600
Dayton, OH$62,600
Charlotte, NC$62,600
Saint Louis, MO$62,600
Lorain, OH$62,500
Beaumont, TX$62,500
Billings, MT$62,500
Benton Harbor, MI$62,500
Elkhart, IN$62,500
York, PA$62,500
Gastonia, NC$62,500
Rockford, IL$62,400
Rock Hill, SC$62,400
Binghamton, NY$62,400
Toledo, OH$62,400
Springfield, IL$62,300
Elyria, OH$62,300
Fargo, ND$62,300
Flagstaff, AZ$62,300
Fort Lauderdale, FL$62,300
Cheyenne, WY$62,200
Grand Forks, ND$62,200
Duluth, MN$62,200
Miami, FL$62,200
Bangor, ME$62,000
Cedar Rapids, IA$62,000
Durham, NC$61,900
Louisville, KY$61,900
Grand Rapids, MI$61,900
Hialeah, FL$61,900
Casper, WY$61,800
Akron, OH$61,700
Virginia Beach, VA$61,700
Scranton, PA$61,700
New Orleans, LA$61,700
Peoria, IL$61,600
Sarasota, FL$61,600
Davenport, IA$61,500
Nashville, TN$61,500
Omaha, NE$61,500
Green Bay, WI$61,500
Baton Rouge, LA$61,500
Charleston, SC$61,500
Jamestown, NY$61,500
Tucson, AZ$61,400
Saint Petersburg, FL$61,400
Tampa, FL$61,400
Port Arthur, TX$61,300
Bradenton, FL$61,300
Evansville, IN$61,300
Santa Fe, NM$61,200
Clearwater, FL$61,100
Orlando, FL$61,100
La Crosse, WI$60,900
Canton, OH$60,900
Albuquerque, NM$60,900
Newport News, VA$60,900
High Point, NC$60,900
Ogden, UT$60,800
Corpus Christi, TX$60,800
Laramie, WY$60,700
Norfolk, VA$60,700
Rock Island, IL$60,700
Saginaw, MI$60,700
Jacksonville, FL$60,700
Salisbury, NC$60,700
Boise, ID$60,700
Fort Myers, FL$60,600
Memphis, TN$60,600
Moline, IL$60,600
Tulsa, OK$60,600
Spartanburg, SC$60,500
Waterloo, IA$60,500
Lincoln, NE$60,400
Fort Wayne, IN$60,400
Provo, UT$60,400
Cedar Falls, IA$60,300
San Antonio, TX$60,300
Greensboro, NC$60,300
South Bend, IN$60,300
Savannah, GA$60,200
Muskegon, MI$60,200
Birmingham, AL$60,200
Winston Salem, NC$60,100
Lake Charles, LA$60,000
Anderson, IN$60,000
Wichita, KS$59,900
Lima, OH$59,900
Tuscaloosa, AL$59,900
Augusta, GA$59,900
Lexington, KY$59,900
Greenville, SC$59,900
Springfield, OH$59,800
Columbia, SC$59,800
Asheville, NC$59,700
Bloomington, IN$59,600
Knoxville, TN$59,400
Shreveport, LA$59,400
Wilmington, NC$59,300
Roanoke, VA$59,300
Frankfort, KY$59,200
Oklahoma City, OK$59,200
Topeka, KS$59,200
Chillicothe, OH$59,100
Longview, TX$59,100
Melbourne, FL$59,100
Sioux Falls, SD$59,000
Mobile, AL$59,000
Terre Haute, IN$59,000
Amarillo, TX$58,900
Altoona, PA$58,900
Killeen, TX$58,900
Chattanooga, TN$58,800
Fayetteville, AR$58,800
Sioux City, IA$58,700
Idaho Falls, ID$58,700
Lynchburg, VA$58,700
Gainesville, FL$58,600
Portsmouth, OH$58,600
Little Rock, AR$58,600
Daytona Beach, FL$58,500
Temple, TX$58,500
Pensacola, FL$58,500
Youngstown, OH$58,500
Lafayette, LA$58,500
Clarksville, TN$58,500
Hopkinsville, KY$58,300
Erie, PA$58,300
Florence, SC$58,200
Charleston, WV$58,100
Great Falls, MT$58,100
Waco, TX$58,000
Fayetteville, NC$58,000
Tallahassee, FL$58,000
Macon, GA$58,000
Helena, MT$57,900
Pine Bluff, AR$57,900
Vincennes, IN$57,800
Lubbock, TX$57,800
Alamogordo, NM$57,800
Twin Falls, ID$57,700
Rapid City, SD$57,700
Greenville, MS$57,600
Jackson, MS$57,600
Huntington, WV$57,600
Parkersburg, WV$57,500
Montgomery, AL$57,500
Biloxi, MS$57,400
Wichita Falls, TX$57,400
Springfield, MO$57,400
Columbus, GA$57,300
Sumter, SC$57,300
Monroe, LA$57,300
Johnstown, PA$57,300
Pascagoula, MS$57,100
Abilene, TX$57,100
Kingsport, TN$57,000
Albany, GA$57,000
Gulfport, MS$56,900
Alexandria, LA$56,700
Fort Smith, AR$56,600
El Paso, TX$56,400
Las Cruces, NM$56,100
Harlingen, TX$55,900
Pocatello, ID$55,900
Florence, AL$55,800
Brownsville, TX$55,800
Mcallen, TX$55,700
Dothan, AL$55,600
Columbus, MS$55,200
Altus, OK$54,900
Lawton, OK$54,800
Pierre, SD$54,600
What Skills Can Increase a Software Quality Testing Specialist III's Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Analysis (Mentioned in 4.17% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
SQL (Mentioned in 3.54% Job Postings): Structured Query Language) is a domain-specific language used in programming and designed for managing data held in a relational database management system (RDBMS), or for stream processing in a relational data stream management system (RDSMS).
Java (Mentioned in 1.95% Job Postings): Using Java in the development and maintenance of application programs and systems.
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 Quality Testing Specialist III's salary.
Process Improvement: Can increase your salary by up to 18%.
Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
Agile Development: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
Software Quality Testing Specialist III Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise
Software Quality Testing Specialist III salary potential scales significantly with company size.
Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $72,417.
While startup companies pay approximate $61,257.
Software Quality Testing Specialist III Salary by Company Size
Company Size
Employees
Average Salary
Startup
1~50
$61,257
Growth Stage
51~500
$64,786
Established
501~5000
$69,928
Enterprise
5000+
$72,417
Software Quality Testing Specialist III Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Software Quality Testing Specialist III roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential
by as much as 90% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries).
Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Energy & Utilities
sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 45% above the average.
In contrast, Software Quality Testing Specialist positions in Telecom or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay,
as these industries often view Software Quality Testing Specialist III as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industries for a Software Quality Testing Specialist III
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals
$93,960
$45.0
45%
Energy & Utilities
$90,720
$44.0
40%
MFG Durable
$87,480
$42.0
35%
Construction
$84,240
$40.0
30%
Internet
$81,000
$39.0
25%
Software Quality Testing Specialist III Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Software Quality Testing Specialist 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.
Hourly
Monthly
Weekly
Yearly
Table View
Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$58,900
Average$64,800/year
$70,200
$4,908
Average$5,400/month
$5,850
$1,133
Average$1,246/week
$1,350
$28
Average$31/hour
$34
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$70,200
$5,850
$1,350
$34
Average
$64,800
$5,400
$1,246
$31
25th Percentile
$58,900
$4,908
$1,133
$28
Software Quality Testing Specialist III Salary Growth & Career Path
For a Software Quality Testing Specialist III, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Software Quality Testing Specialist IV role.
This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to
$72,800 - a projected growth of
12%
over your current level.
Salaries of Jobs related to Software Quality Testing Specialist III
Software Testing and Quality Director$191,290
Software Testing and Quality Manager$137,690
Software Testing and Quality Engineer IV$131,460
Software Testing and Quality Supervisor$120,600
Software Testing and Quality Engineer III$113,840
Software Quality Assurance Engineer III$113,831
Software Testing Specialist$94,503
Software Testing and Quality Engineer II$93,900
Software Quality Testing Specialist IV$72,800
Software Quality Testing Specialist II$54,300
Software Quality Testing Specialist I$47,900
Salary Trends for Software Quality Testing Specialist III
Salaries for a Software Quality Testing Specialist III can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary increased from $61,453 in 2023
to around $61,937 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Software Quality Testing Specialist III salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Software Quality Testing Specialist III Over Time
$???
$61,453
$62,263
$61,937
$???
$???
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$61,453
2024
$62,263
2025
$61,937
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Software Quality Testing Specialist III
Social Security
401 (k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
Common company salaries for Software Quality Testing Specialist III
Here are companies hiring for Software Quality Testing Specialist III and their salaries, click below for more details.
C$128,509/per year
C R Bard IncBiotechnologythe United States
H$124,697/per year
Henry Schein CanadaBiotechnologythe United States
N$123,899/per year
Nordex IncBiotechnologythe United States
N$120,416/per year
Nipro CorpBiotechnologythe United States
E$115,870/per year
EnovisBiotechnologythe United States
A$114,553/per year
Advanced Research Projects Agency - EnergyBiotechnologythe United States
M$112,110/per year
MiniMed IncBiotechnologythe United States
L$111,500/per year
Labcorp Drug DevelopmentBiotechnologythe United States
L$110,229/per year
Life Technologies CorpBiotechnologythe United States
Z$106,224/per year
Zimmer BiometBiotechnologythe United States
P$103,077/per year
Promontory TherapeuticsBiotechnologythe United States
S$102,181/per year
Steris PLCBiotechnologythe United States
G$97,274/per year
Gavin Conferences Pty LtdBiotechnologythe United States
E$94,764/per year
Endeavor BioMedicinesBiotechnologythe United States
R$94,402/per year
Replay Holdings LLCBiotechnologythe United States
P$94,235/per year
Pleno IncBiotechnologythe United States
S$93,666/per year
Simulaids IncBiotechnologythe United States
N$88,880/per year
NOIRLab/CASBiotechnologythe United States
O$86,468/per year
Onward TechnologyBiotechnologythe United States
L$84,895/per year
LED Medical Diagnostics IncBiotechnologythe United States
E$84,682/per year
Eyeco LtdBiotechnologythe United States
P$84,523/per year
PaerosolBiotechnologythe United States
I$83,525/per year
IONIQ Sciences IncBiotechnologythe United States
S$82,815/per year
Stateside PPEBiotechnologythe United States
D$82,041/per year
Digi BioBiotechnologythe United States
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FAQ about Software Quality Testing Specialist III
1. What industry pays the highest salary for Software Quality Testing Specialist III?
The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Software Quality Testing Specialist III roles,
with salaries approximately 45% 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.
