Software Testing Manager Salary in the United States

How much does a Software Testing Manager make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Software Testing Manager in the United States is $121,451 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $58.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $143,878
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $108,500 to $133,190
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $96,709
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View as table View as graph 25% $108,500 10% $96,709 90% $143,878 75% $133,190 $121,451 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Software Testing Manager Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $133,190 $11,099 $2,561 $64
Average $121,451 $10,121 $2,336 $58
25th Percentile $108,500 $9,042 $2,087 $52
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Key Factors That Influence Software Testing Manager Salaries

A Software Testing 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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Software Testing Manager Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Software Testing 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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $132,613
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $144,826
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $104,077
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $124,149
  • Expert (over 8 years): $153,675
Levels Salary
Test Engi... Level Software Testing Manager$132,613
Test Engi... Level Software Testing Manager$144,826
Test Engi... Level Software Testing Manager$104,077
Software ... Level Software Testing Manager$124,149
Test Engi... Level Software Testing Manager$153,675
$132,613 0 yr
$144,826 < 2 yrs
$104,077 2-4 yrs
$124,149 5-8 yrs
$153,675 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Software Testing Manager 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 Software Testing Managers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $134,471.
  • California: $133,960.
  • Massachusetts: $132,175.

Top Paying Cities for Software Testing 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: $153,186
  • San Francisco: $151,680
  • Oakland: $148,316

What Skills Can Increase a Software Testing Manager'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 Software Testing Manager'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
$129,953
7%
Semiconductors
$128,738
6%
Test Engineering
$126,309
4%
SOP
$125,095
3%
Test Automation
$125,095
3%
Process Improvement
$125,095
3%
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How Education impacts a Software Testing Manager's Salary?

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

Software Testing Manager Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Software Testing Manager
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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Software Testing Manager Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Software Testing 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.

Last Updated on January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Software Testing Manager

Salaries for a Software Testing Manager can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $114,532 in 2023 to around $113,991 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Software Testing Manager salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Software Testing Manager Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$114,532
2024
$114,712
2025
$113,991
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $114,532
2024 $114,712
2025 $113,991
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Software Testing Manager

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