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Test Engineer IV Salary in Madison, WI

How much does a Test Engineer IV make in Madison, WI?

As of November 01, 2026, the average salary for a Test Engineer IV in Madison, WI is $133,398 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $64.

However, a Test Engineer IV's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $152,521
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $122,418 to $143,408
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $112,421
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Test Engineer IV Salaries

A Test Engineer IV'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, skills and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Test Engineer IV Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Test Engineer IV'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:

  • Test Engineer II (2-4 years): $78,780
  • Test Engineer III (4-7 years): $110,521
  • Test Engineer IV (7+ years): $133,398
  • Test Engineer V (7-10 years): $145,452
  • Test Engineering Supervisor (10+ years): $104,589
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Test Engineer II2-4 years$78,780
Test Engineer III4-7 years$110,521
Test Engineer IV7+ years$133,398
Test Engineer V7-10 years$145,452
Test Engineering Supervisor10+ years$104,589
View as Graph

Top Paying Cities for Test Engineer IVs

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: $170,783
  • San Francisco: $168,913
  • Oakland: $165,353

What Skills Can Increase a Test Engineer IV's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 8.77% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Computer Science (Mentioned in 2.27% Job Postings): Computer science is the study of computation, automation, and information. Computer science spans theoretical disciplines (such as algorithms, theory of computation, information theory, and automation) to practical disciplines.
  • Software Development (Mentioned in 1.7% Job Postings): Software development is the process of conceiving, specifying, designing, programming, documenting, testing, and bug fixing involved in creating and maintaining applications, frameworks, or other software components. Software development is a process of writing and maintaining the source code, but in a broader sense, it includes all that is involved between the conception of the desired software through to the final manifestation of the software, sometimes in a planned and structured process. Therefore, software development may include research, new development, prototyping, modification, reuse, re-engineering, maintenance, or any other activities that result in software products. Software can be developed for a variety of purposes, the three most common being to meet specific needs of a specific client/business (the case with custom software), to meet a perceived need of some set of potential users (the case with commercial and open source software), or for personal use (e.g. a scientist may write software to automate a mundane task). Embedded software development, that is, the development of embedded software, such as used for controlling consumer products, requires the development process to be integrated with the development of the controlled physical product. System software underlies applications and the programming process itself, and is often developed separately.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 8.77%
Computer Science 2.27%
Software Development 1.7%
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 Test Engineer IV's salary.

  • Hard Working: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Test Strategy: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
  • Test Engineering: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Hard Working $150,740
13%
Test Strategy $149,406
12%
Test Engineering $148,072
11%
Get Latest Data

Test Engineer IV Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Test Engineer IV salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $148,881. While startup companies pay approximate $126,095.

Test Engineer IV Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $126,095
Growth Stage 51~500 $133,318
Established 501~5000 $143,758
Enterprise 5000+ $148,881

Test Engineer IV Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Test Engineer IV roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 45% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Test Engineer positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Test Engineer IV as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Test Engineer IV

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$169,252$81.025%
Energy & Utilities$162,482$78.020%
Financial Services$155,712$75.015%
Pharmaceuticals$155,712$75.015%
Aerospace & Defense$148,942$72.010%

Test Engineer IV Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Test Engineer IV'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 November 01, 2026
$122,418
Average $133,398/year
$143,408
$10,201
Average $11,117/month
$11,951
$2,354
Average $2,565/week
$2,758
$59
Average $64/hour
$69
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $143,408 $11,951 $2,758 $69
Average $133,398 $11,117 $2,565 $64
25th Percentile $122,418 $10,201 $2,354 $59

Test Engineer IV Salary Growth & Career Path

Test Engineer IV

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Advancement

For a Test Engineer IV, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Test Engineer V role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $145,452 - a projected growth of 9% over your current level.

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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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