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Senior Software Quality Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does a Senior Software Quality Engineer make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Senior Software Quality Engineer in the United States is $146,073 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $70.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $163,808
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $134,912 to $155,356
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $124,750
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Paid Annually Paid Monthly Paid Semimonthly Paid Biweekly Paid Weekly Paid Hourly
View as table View as graph 25% $134,912 10% $124,750 90% $163,808 75% $155,356 $146,073 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Senior Software Quality Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $155,356 $12,946 $2,988 $75
Average $146,073 $12,173 $2,809 $70
25th Percentile $134,912 $11,243 $2,594 $65
Check out Senior Software Quality Engineer Job Openings in the United States
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Key Factors That Influence Senior Software Quality Engineer Salaries

A Senior Software Quality 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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Senior Software Quality Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Senior Software Quality 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): $103,644
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $126,927
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $146,848
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $168,814
  • Expert (over 8 years): $167,215
Levels Salary
Software ... Level Senior Software Quality Engineer$103,644
Software ... Level Senior Software Quality Engineer$126,927
Senior So... Level Senior Software Quality Engineer$146,848
Software ... Level Senior Software Quality Engineer$168,814
Software ... Level Senior Software Quality Engineer$167,215
$103,644 0 yr
$126,927 < 2 yrs
$146,848 2-4 yrs
$168,814 5-8 yrs
$167,215 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Senior Software Quality 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:

  • San Jose: $184,242
  • San Francisco: $182,225
  • Oakland: $178,384

What Skills Can Increase a Senior Software Quality Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 2.83% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Open Source (Mentioned in 3.66% Job Postings): Open source is a term that originally referred to open source software (OSS). Open source software is code that is designed to be publicly accessible—anyone can see, modify, and distribute the code as they see fit
  • Programming (Mentioned in 2.62% Job Postings): Executing logic to facilitate computing operations and functionality in one or more languages.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 2.83%
Open Source 3.66%
Programming 2.62%
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 Senior Software Quality Engineer's salary.
  • Relationship Management: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Flexibility: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
  • Solution Design: Can increase your salary by up to 2%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Relationship Management
 $151,916
4%
Flexibility
 $150,455
3%
Solution Design
 $148,994
2%
Attention to Detail
 $148,994
2%
Innovation
 $148,994
2%
Insight
 $148,994
2%
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Senior Software Quality Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Senior Software Quality Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 49% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Pharmaceuticals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Senior Software Quality Engineer positions in Retail & Wholesale or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Senior Software Quality Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Senior Software Quality Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$182,591$88.025%
Pharmaceuticals$175,288$84.020%
Financial Services$167,984$81.015%
Insurance$167,984$81.015%
Biotechnology$160,680$77.010%

How Education impacts a Senior Software Quality Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Senior Software Quality Engineers 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 Senior Software Quality Engineer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $143,573 and $150,375).

Senior Software Quality Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Senior Software Quality Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.2%
High School 2.0%
Associates 1.5%
Bachelors 45.8%
Masters 44.0%
Doctorate 6.5%
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Senior Software Quality Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Senior Software Quality 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.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$134,912
Average $146,073/year
$155,356
$11,243
Average $12,173/month
$12,946
$2,594
Average $2,809/week
$2,988
$65
Average $70/hour
$75
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $155,356 $12,946 $2,988 $75
Average $146,073 $12,173 $2,809 $70
25th Percentile $134,912 $11,243 $2,594 $65

Salaries of jobs related to Senior Software Quality Engineer

Salary Trends for Senior Software Quality Engineer

Salaries for a Senior Software Quality Engineer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $139,249 in 2023 to around $137,327 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Senior Software Quality Engineer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Senior Software Quality Engineer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$139,249
2024
$138,297
2025
$137,327
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $139,249
2024 $138,297
2025 $137,327
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Senior Software Quality Engineer

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Senior Software Quality Engineer

Here are companies hiring for Senior Software Quality Engineer and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Senior Software Quality Engineer Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Senior Software Quality Engineer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States

  • Lower

    Columbus, OH

    Senior Software Engineer

    Lower | Columbus, OH

    LowerOS Senior Software EngineerHere at Lower, we believe homeownership is the key to building wealth, and we're making it easier and more accessible than ... more

    7 Days Ago

  • Staffing the Universe

    Columbus, OH

    Senior Software Engineer

    Staffing the Universe | Columbus, OH

    Senior Software Engineer (TACL HPE Nonstop)Location:Jersey City, NJ OR Tampa, FL OR Plano, TX OR Columbus, OHDuration:12Months (Possibility of Extension)Jo... more

    7 Days Ago

  • Jobot

    Columbus, OH

    Senior Sales Software Engineer

    Jobot | Columbus, OH

    This Jobot Job is hosted by:Merwan Zattam Are you a fit. Easy Apply now by clicking the Apply Now button and sending us your resume. Salary:$120,000 - $155... more

    7 Days Ago

  • Loop

    Columbus, OH

    Senior Software Engineer

    Loop | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. About the Role. Loop is looking for a. Senior Software Engineer. to take meaningful ownership of complex, cross-functiona... more

    7 Days Ago

  • AAA Club Alliance

    Columbus, OH

    Senior Digital Software Development Engineer

    AAA Club Alliance | Columbus, OH

    Digital Software Development Senior EngineerAAA Club Alliance is seeking a Digital Software Development Senior Engineer to join our team at one of our offi... more

    7 Days Ago

  • Corporate One FCU

    Columbus, OH

    Sr Quality Assurance Engineer

    Corporate One FCU | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. Location. Candidates in the Columbus, Ohio and Jacksonville, Florida area are preferred. remote employment is also possib... more

    5 Days Ago

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FAQ about Senior Software Quality Engineer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Senior Software Quality Engineer?

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Senior Software Quality Engineer 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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