QA Engineer IV Salary in the United States

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

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a QA Engineer IV in the United States is $128,789 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $62.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $142,890
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $119,262 to $136,170
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $110,588
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View as table View as graph 25% $119,262 10% $110,588 90% $142,890 75% $136,170 $128,789 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

QA Engineer IV Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $136,170 $11,348 $2,619 $65
Average $128,789 $10,732 $2,477 $62
25th Percentile $119,262 $9,939 $2,294 $57
Check out QA Engineer IV Job Openings in the United States
Circuit Design Engineer IV, Secret Clearance

Lockheed Martin - LOUVIERS, CO

Senior AI/ML Engineer (Computer Engineer IV) with Security Clearance

Barbaricum - CRANE, IN

SATCOM Engineer IV with Security Clearance

Reed Enterprise Consulting LLC / REC - ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, MD

SOFTWARE ENGINEER IV (547) - MARYLAND - URGENT with Security Clearance

Cyberstrike Group - HANOVER, MD

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Key Factors That Influence QA Engineer IV Salaries

A QA Engineer IV'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 Engineer IV Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a QA Engineer IV'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): $123,091
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $123,828
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $124,564
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $127,215
  • Expert (over 8 years): $131,177
Levels Salary
Entry Level QA Engineer IV$123,091
Intermediate Level QA Engineer IV$123,828
Senior Level QA Engineer IV$124,564
Specialist Level QA Engineer IV$127,215
Expert Level QA Engineer IV$131,177
$123,091 0 yr
$123,828 < 2 yrs
$124,564 2-4 yrs
$127,215 5-8 yrs
$131,177 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do QA Engineer IV 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 Engineer IVs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $142,595.
  • California: $142,054.
  • Massachusetts: $140,161.

Top Paying Cities for QA Engineer IVs

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: $162,442
  • San Francisco: $160,845
  • Oakland: $157,277

What Skills Can Increase a QA Engineer IV's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 2.72% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Scrum (Mentioned in 2.77% Job Postings): Using an agile process for managing the lifecycle development of software products.
  • Virtualization (Mentioned in 2.13% Job Postings): In computing, virtualization refers to the act of creating a virtual (rather than actual) version of something, including virtual computer hardware platforms, storage devices, and computer network resources. Virtualization began in the 1960s, as a method of logically dividing the system resources provided by mainframe computers between different applications. Since then, the meaning of the term has broadened.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 2.72%
Scrum 2.77%
Virtualization 2.13%
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 Engineer IV's salary.
  • Authenticity: Can increase your salary by up to 17%.
  • iOS: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Authenticity
 $150,683
17%
iOS
 $137,804
7%
Consulting
 $136,516
6%
Innovation
 $135,228
5%
Integrity
 $133,941
4%
Virtualization
 $133,941
4%
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How Education impacts a QA Engineer IV's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many QA Engineer IVs 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 QA Engineer IV with a Bachelor's Degree is between $123,201 and $129,316).

QA Engineer IV Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for QA Engineer IV
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 3.3%
High School 3.3%
Associates 5.3%
Bachelors 50.0%
Masters 40.1%
Doctorate 1.3%
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QA Engineer IV Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a QA Engineer IV'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.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on January 01, 2026
$119,262
Average $128,789/year
$136,170
$9,939
Average $10,732/month
$11,348
$2,294
Average $2,477/week
$2,619
$57
Average $62/hour
$65
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $136,170 $11,348 $2,619 $65
Average $128,789 $10,732 $2,477 $62
25th Percentile $119,262 $9,939 $2,294 $57

Salaries of jobs related to QA Engineer IV

Salary Trends for QA Engineer IV

Salaries for a QA Engineer IV can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $123,854 in 2023 to around $123,382 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of QA Engineer IV salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of QA Engineer IV Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$123,854
2024
$124,370
2025
$123,382
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $123,854
2024 $124,370
2025 $123,382
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for QA Engineer IV

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for QA Engineer IV

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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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