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Quality Assurance Engineer V Salary in the United States

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

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for a Quality Assurance Engineer V in the United States is $150,356 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $72.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $168,018
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $140,163 to $159,601
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $130,883
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Quality Assurance Engineer V Salaries

A Quality Assurance Engineer V'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 V Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Quality Assurance Engineer V'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 III (4-7 years): $100,752
  • Quality Assurance Engineer IV (7+ years): $125,326
  • Quality Assurance Engineer V (7-10 years): $150,356
  • Quality Assurance Engineering Supervisor (10+ years): $112,621
  • Quality Assurance Engineering Manager (10+ years): $131,634
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Quality Assurance Engineer III4-7 years$100,752
Quality Assurance Engineer IV7+ years$125,326
Quality Assurance Engineer V7-10 years$150,356
Quality Assurance Engineering Supervisor10+ years$112,621
Quality Assurance Engineering Manager10+ years$131,634
View as Graph

How Do Quality Assurance Engineer V 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 Vs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $166,474.
  • California: $165,843.
  • Massachusetts: $163,632.

Top Paying Cities for Quality Assurance Engineer Vs

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: $189,644
  • San Francisco: $187,568
  • Oakland: $183,615

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

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 3.85% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Scrum (Mentioned in 2.79% Job Postings): Using an agile process for managing the lifecycle development of software products.
  • ISO (Mentioned in 1.74% Job Postings): The International Organization for Standardization is an international standard development organization composed of representatives from the national standards organizations of member countries.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 3.85%
Scrum 2.79%
ISO 1.74%
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 V's salary.

  • Debugging: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Networking: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Teamwork: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Debugging $159,377
6%
Networking $157,874
5%
Teamwork $156,370
4%
Get Latest Data

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

Quality Assurance Engineer V salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $167,857. While startup companies pay approximate $142,132.

Quality Assurance Engineer V Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $142,132
Growth Stage 51~500 $150,287
Established 501~5000 $162,079
Enterprise 5000+ $167,857

Quality Assurance Engineer V Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Quality Assurance Engineer V roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 58% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Financial Services and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Quality Assurance Engineer positions in Transportation or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Quality Assurance Engineer V as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Quality Assurance Engineer V

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$195,463$94.030%
Biotechnology$187,945$90.025%
Pharmaceuticals$180,427$87.020%
Energy & Utilities$172,909$83.015%
Aerospace & Defense$165,392$80.010%

How Education impacts a Quality Assurance Engineer V's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Quality Assurance Engineer V 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 V with a Bachelor's Degree is between $151,871 and $158,564.

Quality Assurance Engineer V Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Quality Assurance Engineer V
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 3.7%
High School 3.7%
Associates 3.7%
Bachelors 52.1%
Masters 36.2%
Doctorate 4.3%
View as Graph

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

Understanding how a Quality Assurance Engineer V'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 October 01, 2026
$140,163
Average $150,356/year
$159,601
$11,680
Average $12,530/month
$13,300
$2,695
Average $2,891/week
$3,069
$67
Average $72/hour
$77
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $159,601 $13,300 $3,069 $77
Average $150,356 $12,530 $2,891 $72
25th Percentile $140,163 $11,680 $2,695 $67

Quality Assurance Engineer V Salary Growth & Career Path

Quality Assurance Engineer V

Next Role

Advancement

For a Quality Assurance Engineer V, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Quality Assurance Engineering Supervisor role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $112,621 - a projected growth of -25% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Quality Assurance Engineer V

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

Common company salaries for Quality Assurance Engineer V

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

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FAQ about Quality Assurance Engineer V

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

A Quality Assurance Engineer V'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 V earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Quality Assurance Engineer V is $189,644.

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

The highest pay for Quality Assurance Engineer V is $168,018.

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

The lowest pay for Quality Assurance Engineer V is $130,883.

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

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 in area of specialty. Demonstrates expertise in a variety of the field's concepts, practices, and procedures. May report to an executive or a manager. Works autonomously. Goals are generally communicated in "solution" or project goal terms. May provide a leadership role for the work group through knowledge in the area of specialization. Works on advanced, complex technical projects or business issues requiring state of the art technical or industry knowledge. Typically requires 10+ years of related experience.

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

The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Quality Assurance Engineer V roles, with salaries approximately 30% 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.

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