Salary AI Book a Demo
upper level job

Quality Assurance Engineer I Salary in the United States

How much does a Quality Assurance Engineer I make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Quality Assurance Engineer I in the United States is $75,687 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $36.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $86,311
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $69,120 to $81,248
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $63,141
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Quality Assurance Engineer I Salaries

A Quality Assurance 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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Quality Assurance Engineer I Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Quality Assurance 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:

  • Quality Assurance Engineer I (0-2 years): $75,687
  • Quality Assurance Engineer II (2-4 years): $89,082
  • Quality Assurance Engineer III (4-7 years): $100,757
  • Quality Assurance Engineer IV (7+ years): $125,315
  • Quality Assurance Engineer V (7-10 years): $150,352
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Quality Assurance Engineer I0-2 years$75,687
Quality Assurance Engineer II2-4 years$89,082
Quality Assurance Engineer III4-7 years$100,757
Quality Assurance Engineer IV7+ years$125,315
Quality Assurance Engineer V7-10 years$150,352
View as Graph

How Do Quality Assurance Engineer Is 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 Quality Assurance Engineer Is. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $83,801.
  • California: $83,483.
  • Massachusetts: $82,370.

Top Paying Cities for Quality Assurance Engineer I

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: $95,464
  • San Francisco: $94,419
  • Oakland: $92,429

What Skills Can Increase a Quality Assurance Engineer I's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 4.09% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Software Development (Mentioned in 2.91% Job Postings): Software development is the process of conceiving, specifying, designing, programming, documenting, testing, and bug fixing involved in creating and maintaining applications, frameworks, or other software components. Software development is a process of writing and maintaining the source code, but in a broader sense, it includes all that is involved between the conception of the desired software through to the final manifestation of the software, sometimes in a planned and structured process. Therefore, software development may include research, new development, prototyping, modification, reuse, re-engineering, maintenance, or any other activities that result in software products. Software can be developed for a variety of purposes, the three most common being to meet specific needs of a specific client/business (the case with custom software), to meet a perceived need of some set of potential users (the case with commercial and open source software), or for personal use (e.g. a scientist may write software to automate a mundane task). Embedded software development, that is, the development of embedded software, such as used for controlling consumer products, requires the development process to be integrated with the development of the controlled physical product. System software underlies applications and the programming process itself, and is often developed separately.
  • Scrum (Mentioned in 2.02% Job Postings): Using an agile process for managing the lifecycle development of software products.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 4.09%
Software Development 2.91%
Scrum 2.02%
See More Skills

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 Quality Assurance Engineer I's salary.

  • Scrum: Can increase your salary by up to 31%.
  • Software Testing: Can increase your salary by up to 22%.
  • Jenkins: Can increase your salary by up to 18%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Scrum $99,150
31%
Software Testing $92,338
22%
Jenkins $89,311
18%
Get Latest Data

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

Quality Assurance Engineer I salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $84,727. While startup companies pay approximate $71,677.

Quality Assurance Engineer I Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $71,677
Growth Stage 51~500 $75,807
Established 501~5000 $81,819
Enterprise 5000+ $84,727

Quality Assurance Engineer I Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Quality Assurance Engineer I roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 35% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Financial Services and Pharmaceuticals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Quality Assurance Engineer positions in Telecom or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Quality Assurance Engineer I as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Quality Assurance Engineer I

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$90,824$44.020%
Pharmaceuticals$90,824$44.020%
Biotechnology$87,040$42.015%
Energy & Utilities$83,256$40.010%
Aerospace & Defense$79,471$38.05%

How Education impacts an Quality Assurance Engineer I's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Quality Assurance Engineer I enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Quality Assurance Engineer I with a Bachelor's Degree is between $71,485 and $75,711.

Quality Assurance Engineer I Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Quality Assurance Engineer I
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.3%
High School 8.8%
Associates 8.8%
Bachelors 59.6%
Masters 21.7%
Doctorate 0.8%
View as Graph

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

Understanding how a Quality Assurance 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.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$69,120
Average $75,687/year
$81,248
$5,760
Average $6,307/month
$6,771
$1,329
Average $1,456/week
$1,562
$33
Average $36/hour
$39
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $81,248 $6,771 $1,562 $39
Average $75,687 $6,307 $1,456 $36
25th Percentile $69,120 $5,760 $1,329 $33

Quality Assurance Engineer I Salary Growth & Career Path

Quality Assurance Engineer I

Next Role

Advancement

For a Quality Assurance Engineer I, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Quality Assurance Engineer II role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $89,082 - a projected growth of 18% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Quality Assurance Engineer I

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Quality Assurance Engineer I

Here are companies hiring for Quality Assurance Engineer I and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Quality Assurance Engineer I Job

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

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about Quality Assurance Engineer I

1. Where can a Quality Assurance Engineer I earn the most?

A Quality Assurance Engineer I's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Quality Assurance Engineer I earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Quality Assurance Engineer I is $95,464.

2. What is the highest pay for Quality Assurance Engineer I?

The highest pay for Quality Assurance Engineer I is $86,311.

3. What is the lowest pay for Quality Assurance Engineer I?

The lowest pay for Quality Assurance Engineer I is $63,141.

4. What are the responsibilities of Quality Assurance Engineer I?

Performs inspections and sets quality assurance testing models for analysis of raw materials, materials in process, and finished products. Assists in developing quality control policies and evaluates production limitations. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a supervisor or manager. Typically requires 0-2 years of related experience. Works on projects/matters of limited complexity in a support role. Work is closely managed.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Quality Assurance Engineer I?

The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Quality Assurance Engineer I roles, with salaries approximately 20% 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.

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.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst