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Software Quality Assurance Engineer III Salary in the United States

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

As of March 01, 2026, the average salary for a Software Quality Assurance Engineer III in the United States is $113,835 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $55.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $125,508
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $105,360 to $119,945
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $97,644
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View as table View as graph 25% $105,360 10% $97,644 90% $125,508 75% $119,945 $113,835 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Software Quality Assurance Engineer III Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $119,945 $9,995 $2,307 $58
Average $113,835 $9,486 $2,189 $55
25th Percentile $105,360 $8,780 $2,026 $51
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Key Factors That Influence Software Quality Assurance Engineer III Salaries

A Software Quality Assurance Engineer III'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 Software Quality Assurance Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Software Quality Assurance Engineer III'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): $73,146
  • Software Quality Assurance Engineer II (2-4 years): $93,891
  • Software Quality Assurance Engineer III (4-7 years): $113,835
  • Software Quality Assurance Engineer IV (7+ years): $131,448
  • Software Quality Assurance Engineer V (7-10 years): $153,658
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Software Quality Assurance Engineer I0-2 years$73,146
Software Quality Assurance Engineer II2-4 years$93,891
Software Quality Assurance Engineer III4-7 years$113,835
Software Quality Assurance Engineer IV7+ years$131,448
Software Quality Assurance Engineer V7-10 years$153,658
$73,146 Software ...
$93,891 Software ...
$113,835 Software ...
$131,448 Software ...
$153,658 Software ...
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Software Quality Assurance Engineer IIIs

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: $143,580
  • San Francisco: $142,169
  • Oakland: $139,015

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

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 2.96% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Test Scripts (Mentioned in 3.27% Job Postings): A test script in software testing is a set of instructions that will be performed on the system under test to test that the system functions as expected. There are various means for executing test scripts. Manual testing. These are more commonly called test cases. Automated testing. Short program written in a programming language used to test part of the functionality of a software system. Test scripts written as a short program can either be written using a special automated functional GUI test tool (such as HP QuickTest Professional, Borland SilkTest, IBM TPNS and Rational Robot) or in a well-known programming language (such as C++, C#, Tcl, Expect, Java, PHP, Perl, Powershell, Python, or Ruby). As documented in IEEE, ISO and IEC. Extensively parameterized short programs a.k.a. Data-driven testing Reusable steps created in a table a.k.a. keyword-driven or table-driven testing.
  • Manual Testing (Mentioned in 2.25% Job Postings): Manual Testing is a type of software testing in which test cases are executed manually by a tester without using any automated tools. It refers to a test process in which a QA manually tests the software application in order to identify bugs.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 2.96%
Test Scripts 3.27%
Manual Testing 2.25%
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 Software Quality Assurance Engineer III's salary.
  • Products and Services: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Innovation: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
  • Prioritization: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Products and Services
 $118,388
4%
Innovation
 $117,250
3%
Prioritization
 $117,250
3%
Teamwork
 $116,112
2%
Leadership
 $116,112
2%
Integrity
 $114,973
1%
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How Education impacts a Software Quality Assurance Engineer III's Salary?

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

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Software Quality Assurance Engineer III with a Bachelor's Degree is between $106,639 and $111,757).

Software Quality Assurance Engineer III Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Software Quality Assurance Engineer III
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.1%
High School 7.7%
Associates 4.8%
Bachelors 55.8%
Masters 30.0%
Doctorate 0.6%
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Software Quality Assurance Engineer III Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Software Quality Assurance Engineer III'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.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on March 01, 2026
$105,360
Average $113,835/year
$119,945
$8,780
Average $9,486/month
$9,995
$2,026
Average $2,189/week
$2,307
$51
Average $55/hour
$58
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $119,945 $9,995 $2,307 $58
Average $113,835 $9,486 $2,189 $55
25th Percentile $105,360 $8,780 $2,026 $51

Software Quality Assurance Engineer III Salary Growth & Career Path

Software Quality Assurance Engineer III
Software Quality Assurance Engineer IV
Software Quality Assurance Director

For a Software Quality Assurance Engineer III, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Software Quality Assurance Engineer IV role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $131,448 - a projected growth of 15% over your current level.

Salaries of jobs related to Software Quality Assurance Engineer III

Most common benefits for Software Quality Assurance Engineer III

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401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Software Quality Assurance Engineer III

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

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FAQ about Software Quality Assurance Engineer III

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

A Software Quality Assurance Engineer III'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 Software Quality Assurance Engineer III earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Software Quality Assurance Engineer III is $143,580.

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

The highest pay for Software Quality Assurance Engineer III is $125,508.

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

The lowest pay for Software Quality Assurance Engineer III is $97,644.

4. What are the responsibilities of Software Quality Assurance Engineer III?

Utilizes various testing procedures to ensure that software meets user requirements and established performance, functionality, and quality standards before release. Analyzes software requirements and technical specifications to identify proper testing methods and define acceptance criteria. Prepares data sets and edge cases to test logic, error handling, and system workflows to ensure reliability. Isolates, reproduces, and tracks defects. Documents testing objectives, scope, methods, and results according to required procedures. Performs functional, regression, security, and usability testing. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a manager. Work is generally independent and collaborative in nature. Contributes to moderately complex aspects of a project. Typically requires 4-7 years of related experience.

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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