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QA Associate II Salary in the United States

How much does a QA Associate II make in the United States?

As of November 01, 2026, the average salary for a QA Associate II in the United States is $84,384 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $41.

However, a QA Associate II's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $101,607
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $76,001 to $93,399
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $68,368
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs
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Key Factors That Influence QA Associate II Salaries

A QA Associate II'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 QA Associate Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a QA Associate II'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): $68,871
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $83,721
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $101,327
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $126,406
  • Expert (over 8 years): $153,033
Levels Salary
Quality A... Level QA Associate II$68,871
QA Associ... Level QA Associate II$83,721
Quality A... Level QA Associate II$101,327
Quality A... Level QA Associate II$126,406
Quality A... Level QA Associate II$153,033
View as Graph

How Do QA Associate II 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 QA Associate IIs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $93,430.
  • California: $93,076.
  • Massachusetts: $91,835.

Top Paying Cities for QA Associate IIs

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: $106,434
  • San Francisco: $105,268
  • Oakland: $103,050

What Skills Can Increase a QA Associate II's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 5.23% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Quality Control (Mentioned in 2.37% Job Postings): Developing and implementing a set of procedures intended to maintain the quality of a product and reduce any risks or errors.
  • Internal Audit (Mentioned in 1.83% Job Postings): Internal auditing is an independent, objective assurance and consulting activity designed to add value to and improve an organization's operations. It helps an organization accomplish its objectives by bringing a systematic, disciplined approach to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of risk management, control and governance processes. Internal auditing achieves this by providing insight and recommendations based on analyses and assessments of data and business processes. With commitment to integrity and accountability, internal auditing provides value to governing bodies and senior management as an objective source of independent advice. Professionals called internal auditors are employed by organizations to perform the internal auditing activity. The scope of internal auditing within an organization is broad and may involve topics such as an organization's governance, risk management and management controls over: efficiency/effectiveness of operations (including safeguarding of assets), the reliability of financial and management reporting, and compliance with laws and regulations. Internal auditing may also involve conducting proactive fraud audits to identify potentially fraudulent acts; participating in fraud investigations under the direction of fraud investigation professionals, and conducting post investigation fraud audits to identify control breakdowns and establish financial loss.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 5.23%
Quality Control 2.37%
Internal Audit 1.83%
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 QA Associate II's salary.

  • Change Control: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Agile: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Change Control $88,603
5%
Agile $87,759
4%
Project Management $87,759
4%
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QA Associate II Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For QA Associate II roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 55% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, QA Associate positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view QA Associate II as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a QA Associate II

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$105,480$51.025%
Energy & Utilities$101,261$49.020%
Financial Services$97,042$47.015%
Insurance$94,510$45.012%
Business Services$92,823$45.010%

How Education impacts a QA Associate II's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many QA Associate IIs enter the field with a Associate'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 QA Associate II with a Associate's Degree is between $80,042 and $84,629).

QA Associate II Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for QA Associate II
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.4%
High School 15.6%
Associates 7.6%
Bachelors 54.7%
Masters 21.3%
Doctorate 0.4%
View as Graph

QA Associate II Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a QA Associate II'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 November 01, 2026
$76,001
Average $84,384/year
$93,399
$6,333
Average $7,032/month
$7,783
$1,462
Average $1,623/week
$1,796
$37
Average $41/hour
$45
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $93,399 $7,783 $1,796 $45
Average $84,384 $7,032 $1,623 $41
25th Percentile $76,001 $6,333 $1,462 $37

Most common benefits for QA Associate II

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

Common company salaries for QA Associate II

Here are companies hiring for QA Associate II and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about QA Associate II

1. What industry pays the highest salary for QA Associate II?

The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for QA Associate II roles, with salaries approximately 25% 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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