What are the main factors that influence a Lead Software Test Engineer's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change a Lead Software Test Engineer's salary?

A Lead Software Test Engineer's salary grows with experience: starting around $148,399 for beginners, reaching about $149,983 at mid-level, and approach $158,216 for experts.

What are the highest paying states for a Lead Software Test Engineer?

Lead Software Test Engineer salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Lead Software Test Engineer roles are District of Columbia $167,442, California $166,807, Massachusetts $164,584. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Lead Software Test Engineer roles make?

Salaries for Lead Software Test Engineer level roles vary by specialization: Lead Test Engineer: $154,311; Senior Software Engineer in Test: $153,542; Lead Software Developer In Test: $135,481; Software Test Automation Engineer: $112,388; Senior Software Test Lead: $107,889.

Lead Software Test Engineer Salary in Delaware

How much does a Lead Software Test Engineer make in Delaware?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Lead Software Test Engineer in Delaware is $153,151 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $74.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $172,202
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $141,747 to $163,123
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $131,364

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Lead Software Test Engineer Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$163,123	$13,594	$3,137	$78
Average	$153,151	$12,763	$2,945	$74
25th Percentile	$141,747	$11,812	$2,726	$68

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

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Check out Lead Software Test Engineer Job Openings in Delaware

POSITION TITLE Software Development Engineer in Test

Ecclesiastes Inc - Newark, DE

POSITION TITLE Software Development Engineer in Test

ECCLESIASTES INC - Newark, DE

Embedded Software V&amp Lead Test Automation

Ford Motor Company - Dover, DE

Lead Software Engineer

JPMorgan Chase & Co. - Wilmington, DE

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Key Factors That Influence Lead Software Test Engineer Salaries

A Lead Software Test 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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Lead Software Test Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Lead Software Test 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): $148,399
Early Career (1-2 years): $149,191
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $149,983
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $152,834
Expert (over 8 years): $158,216

Levels	Salary
Entry Level Lead Software Test Engineer	$148,399
Intermediate Level Lead Software Test Engineer	$149,191
Senior Level Lead Software Test Engineer	$149,983
Specialist Level Lead Software Test Engineer	$152,834
Expert Level Lead Software Test Engineer	$158,216

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What Am I Worth?

How Do Lead Software Test 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 Lead Software Test Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $167,442.
California: $166,807.
Massachusetts: $164,584.

District of Columbia $167,442 California $166,807 Massachusetts $164,584 Washington $163,979 New Jersey $163,918 Alaska $163,706 Connecticut $161,620 New York $160,773

Hawaii $158,066 Rhode Island $156,795 Maryland $155,933 Minnesota $154,754 Colorado $154,300 Illinois $154,149 Oregon $153,574 Delaware $153,151

New Hampshire $152,884 Virginia $152,289 Pennsylvania $150,549 Nevada $149,672 North Dakota $149,385 Michigan $148,931 Wisconsin $148,765 Vermont $148,432

Texas $147,510 Maine $147,449 Arizona $147,359 Ohio $147,253 Georgia $145,861 Indiana $145,166 Wyoming $145,030 Utah $144,818

Iowa $144,727 Kansas $144,001 Louisiana $143,789 North Carolina $143,714 Missouri $143,684 Florida $143,094 Montana $142,776 Nebraska $142,474

Kentucky $142,307 South Carolina $141,703 Tennessee $141,324 Idaho $141,173 New Mexico $140,069 Oklahoma $139,827 Alabama $138,935 South Dakota $137,438

Arkansas $136,621 West Virginia $136,183 Mississippi $134,867

Top Paying Cities for Lead Software Test 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:

Lincoln: $158,504
Little Creek: $157,037
Magnolia: $157,688

Lincoln, DE $158,504 Little Creek, DE $157,037 Magnolia, DE $157,688 Milford, DE $158,504 Marydel, DE $156,447 Millsboro, DE $158,504 Millville, DE $159,563 Milton, DE $158,504

Nassau, DE $158,504 Ocean View, DE $159,563 Rehoboth Beach, DE $159,563 Seaford, DE $156,841 Selbyville, DE $159,563 Smyrna, DE $156,266 Viola, DE $157,688 Woodside, DE $157,234

Bear, DE $155,117 Newark, DE $155,177 Claymont, DE $155,298 Delaware City, DE $155,177 Hockessin, DE $155,298 Kirkwood, DE $155,177 Middletown, DE $155,948 Montchanin, DE $155,298

New Castle, DE $155,298 Odessa, DE $156,160 Port Penn, DE $154,754 Rockland, DE $155,298 Saint Georges, DE $155,177 Townsend, DE $155,933 Winterthur, DE $155,298 Lewes, DE $158,504

Wilmington, DE $155,298 Dover, DE $156,962 Dover Afb, DE $157,325 Bethany Beach, DE $159,563 Bethel, DE $156,841 Bridgeville, DE $158,504 Camden Wyoming, DE $157,128 Cheswold, DE $156,599

Clayton, DE $156,205 Dagsboro, DE $159,563 Delmar, DE $156,841 Ellendale, DE $158,504 Felton, DE $158,504 Fenwick Island, DE $159,563 Frankford, DE $159,563 Frederica, DE $158,504

Georgetown, DE $158,504 Greenwood, DE $158,504 Harbeson, DE $158,504 Harrington, DE $158,504 Hartly, DE $156,130 Houston, DE $158,504 Kenton, DE $156,205 Laurel, DE $156,841

Yorklyn, DE $155,298

Lead Software Test Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Lead Software Test 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 January 01, 2026

$141,747

Average $153,151/year

$163,123

$11,812

Average $12,763/month

$13,594

$2,726

Average $2,945/week

$3,137

$68

Average $74/hour

$78

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$163,123	$13,594	$3,137	$78
Average	$153,151	$12,763	$2,945	$74
25th Percentile	$141,747	$11,812	$2,726	$68

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