What are the main factors that influence a Software Quality Assurance Engineer I's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change A Software Quality Assurance Engineer 's salary?

A Software Quality Assurance Engineer 's salary grows with experience: a Software Quality Assurance Engineer I (0-2 years)earns $75,838, a Software Quality Assurance Engineer II (2-4 years)earns $97,346, a Software Quality Assurance Engineer III (4-7 years)earns $118,024, a Software Quality Assurance Engineer IV (7+ years)earns $136,285, a Software Quality Assurance Engineer V (7-10 years)earns $159,313,

What are the highest paying states for a Software Quality Assurance Engineer I?

Software Quality Assurance Engineer I salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Software Quality Assurance Engineer I roles are District of Columbia $80,987, California $80,680, Massachusetts $79,605. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Software Quality Assurance Engineer roles make?

Salaries for Software Quality Assurance Engineer level roles vary by specialization: Software Quality Assurance Director: $191,185; Software Quality Assurance Engineer VI: $176,547; Software Quality Assurance Engineer V: $153,658; Software Quality Assurance Engineer IV: $131,448; Software Quality Assurance Supervisor: $120,618.

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Software Quality Assurance Engineer I Salary in Rhode Island

How much does a Software Quality Assurance Engineer I make in Rhode Island?

As of March 01, 2026, the average salary for a Software Quality Assurance Engineer I in Rhode Island is $75,838 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $36.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $86,100
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $70,381 to $81,209
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $65,413

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Software Quality Assurance Engineer I Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$81,209	$6,767	$1,562	$39
Average	$75,838	$6,320	$1,458	$36
25th Percentile	$70,381	$5,865	$1,353	$34

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

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Key Factors That Influence Software Quality Assurance Engineer I Salaries

A Software 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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Software Quality Assurance Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Software 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:

Software Quality Assurance Engineer I (0-2 years): $75,838
Software Quality Assurance Engineer II (2-4 years): $97,346
Software Quality Assurance Engineer III (4-7 years): $118,024
Software Quality Assurance Engineer IV (7+ years): $136,285
Software Quality Assurance Engineer V (7-10 years): $159,313

Job Role	Years of Experience	Average Salary
Software Quality Assurance Engineer I	0-2 years	$75,838
Software Quality Assurance Engineer II	2-4 years	$97,346
Software Quality Assurance Engineer III	4-7 years	$118,024
Software Quality Assurance Engineer IV	7+ years	$136,285
Software Quality Assurance Engineer V	7-10 years	$159,313

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What Am I Worth?

How Do Software Quality Assurance Engineer I 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 Assurance Engineer Is. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $80,987.
California: $80,680.
Massachusetts: $79,605.

District of Columbia $80,987 California $80,680 Massachusetts $79,605 Washington $79,312 New Jersey $79,283 Alaska $79,181 Connecticut $78,171 New York $77,762

Hawaii $76,452 Rhode Island $75,838 Maryland $75,421 Minnesota $74,850 Colorado $74,631 Illinois $74,558 Oregon $74,280 Delaware $74,075

New Hampshire $73,946 Virginia $73,658 Pennsylvania $72,817 Nevada $72,393 North Dakota $72,254 Michigan $72,034 Wisconsin $71,954 Vermont $71,793

Texas $71,347 Maine $71,317 Arizona $71,273 Ohio $71,222 Georgia $70,549 Indiana $70,213 Wyoming $70,147 Utah $70,045

Iowa $70,001 Kansas $69,650 Louisiana $69,547 North Carolina $69,511 Missouri $69,496 Florida $69,211 Montana $69,057 Nebraska $68,911

Kentucky $68,830 South Carolina $68,538 Tennessee $68,355 Idaho $68,282 New Mexico $67,748 Oklahoma $67,631 Alabama $67,199 South Dakota $66,475

Arkansas $66,080 West Virginia $65,868 Mississippi $65,232

Top Paying Cities for Software Quality Assurance Engineer Is

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:

Adamsville: $77,081
Albion: $75,801
Ashaway: $77,374

Adamsville, RI $77,081 Albion, RI $75,801 Ashaway, RI $77,374 Barrington, RI $75,801 Block Island, RI $76,972 Bradford, RI $77,323 Bristol, RI $75,728 Carolina, RI $76,694

Charlestown, RI $76,774 Chepachet, RI $75,655 Clayville, RI $75,728 Coventry, RI $75,655 West Greenwich, RI $75,604 East Greenwich, RI $75,706 Exeter, RI $77,323 Fiskeville, RI $75,801

Forestdale, RI $75,728 Foster, RI $75,604 Glendale, RI $75,604 Greene, RI $76,452 Greenville, RI $75,801 Harmony, RI $75,779 Harrisville, RI $75,655 Hope, RI $75,801

Hope Valley, RI $77,374 Hopkinton, RI $77,396 Jamestown, RI $76,620 Kenyon, RI $77,301 Little Compton, RI $77,052 Manville, RI $75,801 Mapleville, RI $75,604 Newport, RI $76,635

Middletown, RI $76,957 North Kingstown, RI $75,582 North Scituate, RI $75,779 Oakland, RI $75,677 Pascoag, RI $75,633 Pawtucket, RI $75,801 Central Falls, RI $75,801 Cumberland, RI $75,801

Lincoln, RI $75,801 Portsmouth, RI $76,328 Prudence Island, RI $75,655 Rockville, RI $77,396 Saunderstown, RI $76,664 Shannock, RI $77,279 Slatersville, RI $75,728 Slocum, RI $76,664

Tiverton, RI $77,103 Wakefield, RI $76,584 Kingston, RI $76,598 Narragansett, RI $76,613 Peace Dale, RI $76,584 Warren, RI $75,779 Warwick, RI $75,801 Westerly, RI $77,418

West Kingston, RI $76,642 West Warwick, RI $75,801 Wood River Junction, RI $77,323 Woonsocket, RI $75,728 North Smithfield, RI $75,779 Wyoming, RI $77,301 Providence, RI $75,801 Cranston, RI $75,801

North Providence, RI $75,801 East Providence, RI $75,801 Riverside, RI $75,801 Rumford, RI $75,801 Smithfield, RI $75,801 Johnston, RI $75,801

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

Understanding how a Software 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 March 01, 2026

$70,381

Average $75,838/year

$81,209

$5,865

Average $6,320/month

$6,767

$1,353

Average $1,458/week

$1,562

$34

Average $36/hour

$39

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$81,209	$6,767	$1,562	$39
Average	$75,838	$6,320	$1,458	$36
25th Percentile	$70,381	$5,865	$1,353	$34

Software Quality Assurance Engineer I Salary Growth & Career Path

Software Quality Assurance Engineer I

Software Quality Assurance Engineer II

Software Quality Assurance Director

For a Software Quality Assurance Engineer I, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Software Quality Assurance Engineer II role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $97,346 - a projected growth of 28% over your current level.

Salaries of jobs related to Software Quality Assurance Engineer I

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