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Hourly Wage for Software Quality Assurance Manager Salary in the United States

How much does a Software Quality Assurance Manager make hourly?

As of July 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Software Quality Assurance Manager in the United States is $66, which translates to an annual salary of about $137,641.

However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $76 per hour
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $61 to $71 per hour
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $55 per hour
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View as table View as graph 25% $61 10% $55 90% $76 75% $71 $66 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Software Quality Assurance Manager Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $148,231 $12,353 $2,851 $71
Average $137,641 $11,470 $2,647 $66
25th Percentile $125,975 $10,498 $2,423 $61
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Key Factors That Influence Software Quality Assurance Manager Salaries

A Software Quality Assurance Manager'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 Manager Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Software Quality Assurance Manager'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 VI (10-12 years): $176,632
  • Software Quality Assurance Supervisor (12+ years): $120,603
  • Software Quality Assurance Manager (12+ years): $137,641
  • Software Quality Assurance Senior Manager (12+ years): $166,338
  • Software Quality Assurance Director (12+ years): $191,208
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Software Quality Assurance Engineer VI10-12 years$176,632
Software Quality Assurance Supervisor12+ years$120,603
Software Quality Assurance Manager12+ years$137,641
Software Quality Assurance Senior Manager12+ years$166,338
Software Quality Assurance Director12+ years$191,208
$176,632 Software ...
$120,603 Software ...
$137,641 Software ...
$166,338 Software ...
$191,208 Software ...
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Software Quality Assurance Managers

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: $173,607
  • San Francisco: $171,706
  • Oakland: $168,087

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

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 4.87% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Packaging (Mentioned in 2.07% Job Postings): Preparing products through wrapping or bottling to protect the goods from damages during transportation and storage.
  • Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 1.58% Job Postings): Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications that is designed by Microsoft for business use. You can create documents containing text and images, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create presentations and posters.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 4.87%
Packaging 2.07%
Microsoft Office 1.58%
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 Manager's salary.
  • Data Warehouse: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • Influencing: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Computer Science: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Data Warehouse
 $151,405
10%
Influencing
 $144,523
5%
Computer Science
 $143,147
4%
Team Management
 $143,147
4%
Scrum
 $143,147
4%
Continuous Improvement
 $141,770
3%
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Software Quality Assurance Manager Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Software Quality Assurance Manager salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $153,950. While startup companies pay approximate $130,196.

Software Quality Assurance Manager Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup1~50$130,196
Growth Stage51~500$137,703
Established501~5000$148,668
Enterprise5000+$153,950

Software Quality Assurance Manager Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Software Quality Assurance Manager roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Business Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Software Quality Assurance Manager positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Financial Services typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Software Quality Assurance Manager as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Software Quality Assurance Manager

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$165,169$79.020%
Business Services$165,169$79.020%
Construction$165,169$79.020%
Energy & Utilities$165,169$79.020%
Healthcare$165,169$79.020%

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

Understanding how a Software Quality Assurance Manager'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.

  • Yearly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Hourly
  • Table View
Last Updated on July 01, 2026
$125,975
Average $137,641/year
$148,231
$10,498
Average $11,470/month
$12,353
$2,423
Average $2,647/week
$2,851
$61
Average $66/hour
$71
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $148,231 $12,353 $2,851 $71
Average $137,641 $11,470 $2,647 $66
25th Percentile $125,975 $10,498 $2,423 $61

Salaries of jobs related to Software Quality Assurance Manager

Salary Trends for Software Quality Assurance Manager

Salaries for a Software Quality Assurance Manager can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $131,771 in 2023 to around $130,163 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Software Quality Assurance Manager salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Software Quality Assurance Manager Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$131,771
2024
$130,947
2025
$130,163
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $131,771
2024 $130,947
2025 $130,163
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Software Quality Assurance Manager

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Software Quality Assurance Manager

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FAQ about Software Quality Assurance Manager

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Software Quality Assurance Manager?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Software Quality Assurance Manager roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

2. What are the responsibilities of Software Quality Assurance Manager?

Manages a software quality assurance team to identify defects and ensure quality standards. Selects and utilizes tools and methodologies to improve testing efficiency, accuracy, and consistency. Analyzes software requirements and technical specifications to identify proper testing methods and define acceptance criteria. Evaluates testing outcomes against expected results, implements improvements to processes, and recommends alternative testing as needed. Drafts, revises, and approves test plans and scripts. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a director. Manages subordinate staff in the day-to-day performance of their jobs. True first level manager. Ensures that project/department milestones/goals are met and adhering to approved budgets. Has full authority for personnel actions. Typically requires 5 years experience in the related area as an individual contributor. 1-3 years supervisory experience may be required. Extensive knowledge of the function and department processes.

3. What are the skills of Software Quality Assurance Manager

Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.

1.)

Analysis: Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.

2.)

Packaging: Preparing products through wrapping or bottling to protect the goods from damages during transportation and storage.

3.)

Microsoft Office: Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications that is designed by Microsoft for business use. You can create documents containing text and images, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create presentations and posters.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

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