Salary AI Book a Demo
upper level job

Quality Assurance Specialist I Salary in the United States

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

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Quality Assurance Specialist I in the United States is $68,590 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $33.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $80,196
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $60,525 to $74,665
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $53,182
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Quality Assurance Specialist I Salaries

A Quality Assurance Specialist 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 Specialist I Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Quality Assurance Specialist 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 Specialist I (0-2 years): $68,590
  • Quality Assurance Specialist II (2-4 years): $83,378
  • Quality Assurance Specialist III (4-7 years): $100,915
  • Quality Assurance Specialist IV (7+ years): $125,902
  • Quality Assurance Specialist V (7-10 years): $152,383
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Quality Assurance Specialist I0-2 years$68,590
Quality Assurance Specialist II2-4 years$83,378
Quality Assurance Specialist III4-7 years$100,915
Quality Assurance Specialist IV7+ years$125,902
Quality Assurance Specialist V7-10 years$152,383
View as Graph

How Do Quality Assurance Specialist 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 Specialist Is. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $75,943.
  • California: $75,655.
  • Massachusetts: $74,646.

Top Paying Cities for Quality Assurance Specialist 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: $86,513
  • San Francisco: $85,565
  • Oakland: $83,762

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

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 4.77% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • SOP (Mentioned in 2.28% Job Postings): SOP is A standard operating procedure is a set of step-by-step instructions compiled by an organization to help workers carry out routine operations.
  • Auditing (Mentioned in 1.55% Job Postings): Auditing refers to the independent examination of financial information of any entity whether profit oriented or not. It is a safeguard measure that prevents corruption.
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 4.77%
SOP 2.28%
Auditing 1.55%
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 Specialist I's salary.

  • Computer Science: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • SQL: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Computer Science $76,135
11%
Project Management $75,449
10%
SQL $75,449
10%
Get Latest Data

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

Quality Assurance Specialist I salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $76,783. While startup companies pay approximate $64,956.

Quality Assurance Specialist I Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $64,956
Growth Stage 51~500 $68,699
Established 501~5000 $74,147
Enterprise 5000+ $76,783

Quality Assurance Specialist I Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Quality Assurance Specialist I roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 65% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Quality Assurance Specialist positions in Transportation or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Quality Assurance Specialist I as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Quality Assurance Specialist I

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$89,167$43.030%
Energy & Utilities$85,738$41.025%
Financial Services$82,308$40.020%
Pharmaceuticals$82,308$40.020%
Software & Networking$82,308$40.020%

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

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Quality Assurance Specialist 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 Specialist I with a Bachelor's Degree is between $64,893 and $68,807.

Quality Assurance Specialist I Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Quality Assurance Specialist I
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.9%
High School 19.2%
Associates 13.9%
Bachelors 54.5%
Masters 11.5%
Doctorate 0.0%
View as Graph

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

Understanding how a Quality Assurance Specialist 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
$60,525
Average $68,590/year
$74,665
$5,044
Average $5,716/month
$6,222
$1,164
Average $1,319/week
$1,436
$29
Average $33/hour
$36
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $74,665 $6,222 $1,436 $36
Average $68,590 $5,716 $1,319 $33
25th Percentile $60,525 $5,044 $1,164 $29

Quality Assurance Specialist I Salary Growth & Career Path

Quality Assurance Specialist I

Next Role

Advancement

For a Quality Assurance Specialist I, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Quality Assurance Specialist II role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $83,378 - a projected growth of 22% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Quality Assurance Specialist I

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

Common company salaries for Quality Assurance Specialist I

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

Find Your Next Quality Assurance Specialist I Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Quality Assurance Specialist 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 Specialist I

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

A Quality Assurance Specialist 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 Specialist I earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Quality Assurance Specialist I is $86,513.

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

The highest pay for Quality Assurance Specialist I is $80,196.

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

The lowest pay for Quality Assurance Specialist I is $53,182.

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

Implements company and regulatory quality standards for product manufacturing. Knowledgeable of industry and governmental quality regulations. Audits and reviews quality data according to existing procedures. Documents results in required format. Requires a bachelor's degree or equivalent. Typically reports to a manager or head of a unit/department. Work is closely managed. Works on projects/matters of limited complexity in a support role. Typically requires 0-2 years of related experience.

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

The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for Quality Assurance Specialist I 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.

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