Network Software QA Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does a Network Software QA Engineer make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Network Software QA Engineer in the United States is $151,189 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $73.

However, a Network Software QA Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $170,848
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $140,259 to $161,479
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $130,308

Key Factors That Influence Network Software QA Engineer Salaries

A Network Software QA Engineer'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 Network Software QA Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Network Software QA Engineer'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): $111,797
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $131,390
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $150,433
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $188,213
  • Expert (over 8 years): $118,559
Levels Salary
Network E... Level Network Software QA Engineer$111,797
Network E... Level Network Software QA Engineer$131,390
Network S... Level Network Software QA Engineer$150,433
Network E... Level Network Software QA Engineer$188,213
Network E... Level Network Software QA Engineer$118,559

How Do Network Software QA Engineer 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 Network Software QA Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $167,396.
  • California: $166,761.
  • Massachusetts: $164,539.

Top Paying Cities for Network Software QA Engineers

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: $190,695
  • San Francisco: $188,607
  • Oakland: $184,632

What Skills Can Increase a Network Software QA Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Networking (Mentioned in 9% Job Postings): Ability to maintain, build and expand a personal and business contact list to grow one's career and business opportunities.
  • Network Infrastructure (Mentioned in 2.75% Job Postings): Refers to all of the resources of a network that make network or internet connectivity, management, business operations and communication possible.
  • Network Engineering (Mentioned in 2.26% Job Postings): A computer network is a digital telecommunications network which allows nodes to share resources. In computer networks, computing devices exchange data with each other using connections (data links) between nodes. These data links are established over cable media such as wires or optic cables, or wireless media such as Wi-Fi. Network computer devices that originate, route and terminate the data are called network nodes. Nodes are generally identified by network addresses, and can include hosts such as personal computers, phones, and servers, as well as networking hardware such as routers and switches. Two such devices can be said to be networked together when one device is able to exchange information with the other device, whether or not they have a direct connection to each other. In most cases, application-specific communications protocols are layered (i.e. carried as payload) over other more general communications protocols. This formidable collection of information technology requires skilled network management to keep it all running reliably.
Skills Demand Percentage
Networking 9%
Network Infrastructure 2.75%
Network Engineering 2.26%

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 Network Software QA Engineer's salary.

  • Decision Making: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Coordination: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Network Engineering: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Decision Making $157,237
4%
Coordination $157,237
4%
Network Engineering $157,237
4%

Network Software QA Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Network Software QA Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Network Software QA Engineer positions in Retail & Wholesale or MFG Durable typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Network Software QA Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Network Software QA Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$181,427$87.020%
Financial Services$181,427$87.020%
Pharmaceuticals$181,427$87.020%
Software & Networking$181,427$87.020%
Telecom$181,427$87.020%

How Education impacts a Network Software QA Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Network Software QA Engineers enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate 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 Network Software QA Engineer with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $138,031 and $144,546).

Network Software QA Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Network Software QA Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 2.2%
High School 22.7%
Associates 9.5%
Bachelors 45.4%
Masters 19.8%
Doctorate 0.4%

Network Software QA Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Network Software QA Engineer'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
$140,259
Average $151,189/year
$161,479
$11,688
Average $12,599/month
$13,457
$2,697
Average $2,907/week
$3,105
$67
Average $73/hour
$78
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $161,479 $13,457 $3,105 $78
Average $151,189 $12,599 $2,907 $73
25th Percentile $140,259 $11,688 $2,697 $67

Most common benefits for Network Software QA Engineer

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

Common company salaries for Network Software QA Engineer

Here are companies hiring for Network Software QA Engineer and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Network Software QA Engineer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Network Software QA Engineer?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Network Software QA Engineer roles, with salaries approximately 20% 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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