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Testing Technician Salary in the United States

How much does a Testing Technician make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Testing Technician in the United States is $58,507 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $28.

However, a Testing Technician's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $68,191
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $49,848 to $63,576
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $41,964
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Testing Technician Salaries

A Testing Technician'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 Testing Technician Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Testing Technician'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:

  • Testing Technician (1-3 years): $58,507
  • Testing Technician, Sr. (3-5 years): $69,449
  • Production Test Supervisor (5+ years): $81,391
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Testing Technician1-3 years$58,507
Testing Technician, Sr.3-5 years$69,449
Production Test Supervisor5+ years$81,391
View as Graph

How Do Testing Technicians 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 Testing Technicians. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $64,779.
  • California: $64,533.
  • Massachusetts: $63,673.

Top Paying Cities for Testing Technician

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: $73,795
  • San Francisco: $72,987
  • Oakland: $71,449

What Skills Can Increase a Testing Technician's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Troubleshooting (Mentioned in 6.13% Job Postings): Troubleshooting is a form of problem solving, often applied to repair failed products or processes on a machine or a system. It is a logical, systematic search for the source of a problem in order to solve it, and make the product or process operational again. Troubleshooting is needed to identify the symptoms. Determining the most likely cause is a process of elimination—eliminating potential causes of a problem. Finally, troubleshooting requires confirmation that the solution restores the product or process to its working state. In general, troubleshooting is the identification or diagnosis of "trouble" in the management flow of a system caused by a failure of some kind. The problem is initially described as symptoms of malfunction, and troubleshooting is the process of determining and remedying the causes of these symptoms. A system can be described in terms of its expected, desired or intended behavior (usually, for artificial systems, its purpose). Events or inputs to the system are expected to generate specific results or outputs. (For example, selecting the "print" option from various computer applications is intended to result in a hardcopy emerging from some specific device). Any unexpected or undesirable behavior is a symptom. Troubleshooting is the process of isolating the specific cause or causes of the symptom. Frequently the symptom is a failure of the product or process to produce any results. (Nothing was printed, for example). Corrective action can then be taken to prevent further failures of a similar kind.
  • Field Testing (Mentioned in 2.49% Job Postings): Field testing involves administering an early version of a survey to a sample of the target audience
  • Product Quality (Mentioned in 1.78% Job Postings): Product quality refers to how well a product satisfies customer needs, serves its purpose and meets industry standards. When evaluating product quality, businesses consider several key factors, including whether a product solves a problem, works efficiently or suits customers' purposes.
Skills Demand Percentage
Troubleshooting 6.13%
Field Testing 2.49%
Product Quality 1.78%
See More Skills

Testing Technician Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Testing Technician salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $65,495. While startup companies pay approximate $55,407.

Testing Technician Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $55,407
Growth Stage 51~500 $58,600
Established 501~5000 $63,247
Enterprise 5000+ $65,495

Testing Technician Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Testing Technician roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 118% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Pharmaceuticals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Testing Technician positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Testing Technician as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Testing Technician

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$81,910$39.040%
Pharmaceuticals$78,984$38.035%
Financial Services$76,059$37.030%
Internet$73,134$35.025%
Biotechnology$70,208$34.020%

How Education impacts an Testing Technician's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Testing Technician 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 Testing Technician with a Bachelor's Degree is between $56,776 and $61,712.

Testing Technician Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Testing Technician
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.8%
High School 30.1%
Associates 41.4%
Bachelors 22.6%
Masters 3.8%
Doctorate 1.5%
View as Graph

Testing Technician Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Testing Technician'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
$49,848
Average $58,507/year
$63,576
$4,154
Average $4,876/month
$5,298
$959
Average $1,125/week
$1,223
$24
Average $28/hour
$31
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $63,576 $5,298 $1,223 $31
Average $58,507 $4,876 $1,125 $28
25th Percentile $49,848 $4,154 $959 $24

Testing Technician Salary Growth & Career Path

Testing Technician

Next Role

Advancement

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As a Testing Technician, you have the following paths for advancement. The table below compares the salary raises for common next-step roles. By comparing these figures, you can choose the career path that best meets your financial goals.

Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
Non-Destructive Test Technician III $74,594 27%
Testing Technician, Sr. $69,449 19%

Most common benefits for Testing Technician

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

Common company salaries for Testing Technician

Here are companies hiring for Testing Technician and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Testing Technician

1. Where can a Testing Technician earn the most?

A Testing Technician'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 Testing Technician earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Testing Technician is $73,795.

2. What is the highest pay for Testing Technician?

The highest pay for Testing Technician is $68,191.

3. What is the lowest pay for Testing Technician?

The lowest pay for Testing Technician is $41,964.

4. What are the responsibilities of Testing Technician?

Performs standard testing processes on a variety of equipment and records and analyzes results. Records data from testing in standard formats and provides results to product and engineering teams. Assists technical teams with recommendations to resolve testing problems, roadblocks or equipment malfunctions that impact the performance or validity of testing. Requires knowledge of industry specific tests and testing equipment. Typically requires an associate degree. Typically reports to a supervisor. Works under moderate supervision. Gaining or has attained full proficiency in a specific area of discipline. Typically requires 1-3 years of related experience.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Testing Technician?

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Testing Technician roles, with salaries approximately 40% 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.

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