Software development engineers in test Lead Salary in the United States

How much does a Software development engineers in test Lead make in the United States?

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for a Software development engineers in test Lead in the United States is $166,344 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $80.

However, a Software development engineers in test Lead's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $192,550
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $156,615 to $180,061
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $147,757
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View as table View as graph 25% $156,615 10% $147,757 90% $192,550 75% $180,061 $166,344 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Software development engineers in test Lead Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $180,061 $15,005 $3,463 $87
Average $166,344 $13,862 $3,199 $80
25th Percentile $156,615 $13,051 $3,012 $75
Check out Software development engineers in test Lead Job Openings in the United States
Software Development Engineer in Test

Medpace - Cincinnati, OH

RF Software Test Development Engineer

Rohde & Schwarz (China) Technology Co., Ltd. - New Bremen, OH

Software Development Team Lead

CORYX Software GmbH - New Bremen, OH

Software Engineer in Test

Compunnel, Inc. - Westlake, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Software development engineers in test Lead Salaries

A Software development engineers in test Lead'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 development engineers in test Lead Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Software development engineers in test Lead'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): $145,226
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $166,935
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $165,336
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $208,857
  • Expert (over 8 years): $235,516
Levels Salary
Software ... Level Software development engineers in test Lead$145,226
Software ... Level Software development engineers in test Lead$166,935
Software ... Level Software development engineers in test Lead$165,336
Software ... Level Software development engineers in test Lead$208,857
VP of Sof... Level Software development engineers in test Lead$235,516
$145,226 0 yr
$166,935 < 2 yrs
$165,336 2-4 yrs
$208,857 5-8 yrs
$235,516 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Software development engineers in test Lead 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 development engineers in test Leads. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $184,176.
  • California: $183,477.
  • Massachusetts: $181,032.

Top Paying Cities for Software development engineers in test Leads

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: $209,810
  • San Francisco: $207,747
  • Oakland: $203,139

What Skills Can Increase a Software development engineers in test Lead's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 3.75% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Agile (Mentioned in 3.66% Job Postings): Agile is a development process where feedback is continuously gathered from users to create the best user experience.
  • Docker (Mentioned in 2.33% Job Postings): Building, running, and managing containers to deliver software quickly on various platforms.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 3.75%
Agile 3.66%
Docker 2.33%
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 development engineers in test Lead's salary.
  • Employment Authorization: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Experimenting: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Mentoring Others: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Employment Authorization
 $172,998
4%
Experimenting
 $172,998
4%
Mentoring Others
 $172,998
4%
Diversity and Inclusion
 $171,334
3%
Docker
 $171,334
3%
People Management
 $171,334
3%
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How Education impacts a Software development engineers in test Lead's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Software development engineers in test Leads 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 development engineers in test Lead with a Bachelor's Degree is between $154,371 and $162,936).

Software development engineers in test Lead Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Software development engineers in test Lead
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.3%
High School 2.6%
Associates 1.4%
Bachelors 45.9%
Masters 45.3%
Doctorate 4.6%
view as graph

Software development engineers in test Lead Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Software development engineers in test Lead'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 April 01, 2026
$156,615
Average $166,344/year
$180,061
$13,051
Average $13,862/month
$15,005
$3,012
Average $3,199/week
$3,463
$75
Average $80/hour
$87
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $180,061 $15,005 $3,463 $87
Average $166,344 $13,862 $3,199 $80
25th Percentile $156,615 $13,051 $3,012 $75

Salaries of jobs related to Software development engineers in test Lead

Salary Trends for Software development engineers in test Lead

Salaries for a Software development engineers in test Lead can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $147,723 in 2023 to around $146,853 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Software development engineers in test Lead salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Software development engineers in test Lead Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$147,723
2024
$148,198
2025
$146,853
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $147,723
2024 $148,198
2025 $146,853
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Software development engineers in test Lead

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.)

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