Contract QA Tester Salary in the United States

How much does a Contract QA Tester make in the United States?

As of February 01, 2026, the average salary for a Contract QA Tester in the United States is $70,846 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $34.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $88,493
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $64,239 to $80,083
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $58,223
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View as table View as graph 25% $64,239 10% $58,223 90% $88,493 75% $80,083 $70,846 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Contract QA Tester Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $80,083 $6,674 $1,540 $39
Average $70,846 $5,904 $1,362 $34
25th Percentile $64,239 $5,353 $1,235 $31
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Key Factors That Influence Contract QA Tester Salaries

A Contract QA 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 Contract QA Tester Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Contract QA 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): $66,819
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $67,010
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $69,563
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $73,155
  • Expert (over 8 years): $73,412
Levels Salary
Entry Level Contract QA Tester$66,819
Intermediate Level Contract QA Tester$67,010
Senior Level Contract QA Tester$69,563
Specialist Level Contract QA Tester$73,155
Expert Level Contract QA Tester$73,412
$66,819 0 yr
$67,010 < 2 yrs
$69,563 2-4 yrs
$73,155 5-8 yrs
$73,412 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Contract QA 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 Contract QA Testers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $78,441.
  • California: $78,143.
  • Massachusetts: $77,102.

Top Paying Cities for Contract QA 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: $89,358
  • San Francisco: $88,480
  • Oakland: $86,517

What Skills Can Increase a Contract QA Tester's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 6.53% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Billing (Mentioned in 3.15% Job Postings): Billing refers to the aspect of banking, whereby someone is charged accurately for what item they purchased.
  • Sales Support (Mentioned in 1.35% Job Postings): The tasks, roles, and technology that exist within our organization to help our sales force close deals.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 6.53%
Billing 3.15%
Sales Support 1.35%
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 Contract QA Tester's salary.
  • Risk Management: Can increase your salary by up to 17%.
  • Continuous Improvement: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
  • Analysis: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Risk Management
$82,890
17%
Continuous Improvement
$80,764
14%
Analysis
$78,639
11%
Revenue Recognition
$78,639
11%
Underwriting
$78,639
11%
Contract Management
$78,639
11%
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How Education impacts a Contract QA Tester's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Contract QA 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 Contract QA Tester with a Bachelor's Degree is between $64,275 and $69,416).

Contract QA Tester Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Contract QA Tester
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 9.1%
High School 18.2%
Associates 9.1%
Bachelors 54.5%
Masters 9.1%
Doctorate 9.1%
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Contract QA Tester Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Contract QA 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 February 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Contract QA Tester

Salaries for a Contract QA Tester can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $77,644 in 2023 to around $77,044 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Contract QA Tester salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Contract QA Tester Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$77,644
2024
$77,855
2025
$77,044
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $77,644
2024 $77,855
2025 $77,044
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Contract QA Tester

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

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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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