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Specialist Quality Assurance Engineer Salary in District of Columbia

How much does a Specialist Quality Assurance Engineer make in District of Columbia?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Specialist Quality Assurance Engineer in District of Columbia is $138,739 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $67.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $154,093
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $127,957 to $146,776
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $118,141
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View as table View as graph 25% $127,957 10% $118,141 90% $154,093 75% $146,776 $138,739 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Specialist Quality Assurance Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $146,776 $12,231 $2,823 $71
Average $138,739 $11,562 $2,668 $67
25th Percentile $127,957 $10,663 $2,461 $62
Check out Specialist Quality Assurance Engineer Job Openings in District of Columbia
Quality Assurance Engineer

Bow Wave LLC - Washington, DC

Software Quality Assurance Engineer III

Vantage Systems - Washington, DC

Quality Assurance

Ampcus - Washington, DC

Vice President of Quality Assurance

Confidential - MINNEAPOLIS, MN

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Key Factors That Influence Specialist Quality Assurance Engineer Salaries

A Specialist Quality Assurance Engineer'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 Specialist Quality Assurance Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Specialist Quality Assurance Engineer'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:

  • Intermediate Quality Assurance Engineer (2-4 years): $98,632
  • QA/Validation Engineer III (4-7 years): $111,558
  • Specialist Quality Assurance Engineer (7+ years): $138,749
  • Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer (7-10 years): $166,470
  • QA/Validation Engineering Supervisor (10+ years): $124,696
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Intermediate Quality Assurance Engineer2-4 years$98,632
QA/Validation Engineer III4-7 years$111,558
Specialist Quality Assurance Engineer7+ years$138,749
Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer7-10 years$166,470
QA/Validation Engineering Supervisor10+ years$124,696
$98,632 Intermedi...
$111,558 QA/Valida...
$138,749 Specialis...
$166,470 Expert/Co...
$124,696 QA/Valida...
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Specialist Quality Assurance Engineers

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:

  • Parcel Return Service: $137,986
  • Washington: $137,987
  • Naval Anacost Annex: $137,981

Specialist Quality Assurance Engineer Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Specialist Quality Assurance Engineer salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $155,310. While startup companies pay approximate $131,389.

Specialist Quality Assurance Engineer Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup1~50$131,389
Growth Stage51~500$138,959
Established501~5000$149,980
Enterprise5000+$155,310

Specialist Quality Assurance Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Specialist Quality Assurance Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 80% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Healthcare and Aerospace & Defense sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Specialist Quality Assurance Engineer positions in Hospitality & Leisure or MFG Nondurable typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Specialist Quality Assurance Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Specialist Quality Assurance Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$194,235$93.040%
Aerospace & Defense$180,361$87.030%
Pharmaceuticals$180,361$87.030%
Financial Services$166,487$80.020%
Software & Networking$166,487$80.020%

Specialist Quality Assurance Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Specialist Quality Assurance Engineer'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 August 01, 2026
$127,957
Average $138,739/year
$146,776
$10,663
Average $11,562/month
$12,231
$2,461
Average $2,668/week
$2,823
$62
Average $67/hour
$71
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $146,776 $12,231 $2,823 $71
Average $138,739 $11,562 $2,668 $67
25th Percentile $127,957 $10,663 $2,461 $62

Specialist Quality Assurance Engineer Salary Growth & Career Path

Specialist Quality Assurance Engineer
Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer
QA/Validation Engineering Supervisor

For a Specialist Quality Assurance Engineer, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $166,500 - a projected growth of 20% over your current level.

Salaries of jobs related to Specialist Quality Assurance Engineer

Find Your Next Specialist Quality Assurance Engineer Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Specialist Quality Assurance Engineer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States

  • Confidential

    COLORADO SPRINGS, CO

    Vice President of Quality Assurance

    Confidential | COLORADO SPRINGS, CO

    Vice President of Quality Assurance. About the Company. Vibrant financial technology (FinTech) organization. Industry. Financial Services. Type. Privately ... more

    15 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    ROSEMONT, IL

    Associate Vice President of Quality Assurance

    Confidential | ROSEMONT, IL

    Associate Vice President of Quality Assurance. About the Company. Dynamic mortgage banking & servicing firm. Industry. Financial Services. Type. Privately ... more

    1 Month Ago

  • Confidential

    NEW YORK, NY

    Vice President Surveillance Quality Assurance

    Confidential | NEW YORK, NY

    Vice President, Surveillance Quality Assurance. About the Company. Accomplished investment bank. Industry. Investment Banking. Type. Privately Held. About ... more

    1 Month Ago

  • Confidential

    LOS ANGELES, CA

    Vice President of Food Safety&Quality Assurance

    Confidential | LOS ANGELES, CA

    Vice President of Food Safety & Quality Assurance. About the Company. A rapidly growing food and beverage manufacturer. Industry. Food & Beverages. Type. P... more

    2 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    SAN BERNARDINO, CA

    Vice President of Food Safety&Quality Assurance

    Confidential | SAN BERNARDINO, CA

    Vice President of Food Safety & Quality Assurance. About the Company. A rapidly growing food and beverage manufacturer. Industry. Food & Beverages. Type. P... more

    2 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    FREMONT, CA

    Vice President of Food Safety&Quality Assurance

    Confidential | FREMONT, CA

    Vice President of Food Safety & Quality Assurance. About the Company. A rapidly growing food and beverage manufacturer. Industry. Food & Beverages. Type. P... more

    4 Days Ago

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Cost of Living In District of Columbia

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