Lead Tester Salary in the United States

How much does a Lead Tester make in the United States?

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for a Lead Tester in the United States is $121,494 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $58.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $143,793
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $108,523 to $133,166
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $96,714
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View as table View as graph 25% $108,523 10% $96,714 90% $143,793 75% $133,166 $121,494 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Lead Tester Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $133,166 $11,097 $2,561 $64
Average $121,494 $10,125 $2,336 $58
25th Percentile $108,523 $9,044 $2,087 $52
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Key Factors That Influence Lead Tester Salaries

A Lead Tester'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 Lead Tester Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Lead Tester'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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $132,697
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $144,850
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $104,113
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $124,196
  • Expert (over 8 years): $153,749
Levels Salary
Test Engi... Level Lead Tester$132,697
Test Engi... Level Lead Tester$144,850
Test Engi... Level Lead Tester$104,113
Lead Test... Level Lead Tester$124,196
Test Engi... Level Lead Tester$153,749
$132,697 0 yr
$144,850 < 2 yrs
$104,113 2-4 yrs
$124,196 5-8 yrs
$153,749 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Lead Tester 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 Lead Testers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $134,518.
  • California: $134,008.
  • Massachusetts: $132,222.

Top Paying Cities for Lead Testers

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: $153,240
  • San Francisco: $151,734
  • Oakland: $148,368

What Skills Can Increase a Lead Tester's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 6.33% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Electrical Engineering (Mentioned in 2.4% Job Postings): Electrical engineering is a technical discipline concerned with the study, design and application of equipment, devices and systems which use electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism. It emerged as an identified activity in the latter half of the 19th century after commercialization of the electric telegraph, the telephone, and electrical power generation, distribution and use. Electrical engineering is now divided into a wide range of fields including, computer engineering, power engineering, telecommunications, radio-frequency engineering, signal processing, instrumentation, and electronics. Many of these disciplines overlap with other engineering branches, spanning a huge number of specializations including hardware engineering, power electronics, electromagnetics and waves, microwave engineering, nanotechnology, electrochemistry, renewable energies, mechatronics, and electrical materials science. See glossary of electrical and electronics engineering.
  • Data Entry (Mentioned in 1.31% Job Postings): Transcribing information into an electronic medium such as a computer or other electronic device.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 6.33%
Electrical Engineering 2.4%
Data Entry 1.31%
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 Lead Tester's salary.
  • Container: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Semiconductors: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Test Engineering: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Container
$129,999
7%
Semiconductors
$128,784
6%
Test Engineering
$126,354
4%
SOP
$125,139
3%
Test Automation
$125,139
3%
Process Improvement
$125,139
3%
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How Education impacts a Lead Tester's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Lead Testers 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 Lead Tester with a Bachelor's Degree is between $133,982 and $141,049).

Lead Tester Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Lead Tester
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.8%
High School 1.8%
Associates 4.5%
Bachelors 50.0%
Masters 42.0%
Doctorate 1.8%
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Lead Tester Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Lead Tester'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 April 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Lead Tester

Salaries for a Lead Tester can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $114,567 in 2023 to around $114,026 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Lead Tester salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Lead Tester Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$114,567
2024
$114,747
2025
$114,026
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $114,567
2024 $114,747
2025 $114,026
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Lead Tester

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Lead Tester

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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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