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Lead Tester Salary in the United States

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

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Lead Tester in the United States is $121,507 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): $143,760
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $108,531 to $133,155
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $96,717
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

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): $132,773
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $144,816
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $104,120
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $124,210
  • Expert (over 8 years): $153,795
Levels Salary
Test Engi... Level Lead Tester$132,773
Test Engi... Level Lead Tester$144,816
Test Engi... Level Lead Tester$104,120
Lead Test... Level Lead Tester$124,210
Test Engi... Level Lead Tester$153,795
View as Graph

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: $134,533.
  • California: $134,022.
  • Massachusetts: $132,236.

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: $153,257
  • San Francisco: $151,579
  • Oakland: $148,384

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.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 6.33%
Electrical Engineering 2.4%
Data Entry 1.31%
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 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 $130,012
7%
Semiconductors $128,797
6%
Test Engineering $126,367
4%
Get Latest Data

Lead Tester Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Lead Tester roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 80% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Pharmaceuticals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 47% above the average. In contrast, Lead Tester positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Lead Tester as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Lead Tester

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$178,615$86.047%
Pharmaceuticals$166,465$80.037%
Financial Services$154,314$74.027%
Internet$148,239$71.022%
Biotechnology$142,163$68.017%

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%
View as Graph

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 September 01, 2026
$108,531
Average $121,507/year
$133,155
$9,044
Average $10,126/month
$11,096
$2,087
Average $2,337/week
$2,561
$52
Average $58/hour
$64
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $133,155 $11,096 $2,561 $64
Average $121,507 $10,126 $2,337 $58
25th Percentile $108,531 $9,044 $2,087 $52

Most common benefits for Lead Tester

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

Common company salaries for Lead Tester

Here are companies hiring for Lead Tester and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Lead Tester

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Lead Tester?

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Lead Tester roles, with salaries approximately 47% 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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