Know your market value with insights across roles — from individual contributors to executive pay and overall company compensation trends.
Access a suite of powerful calculators to make data-driven career decisions.
Automate pay cycles, manage job architectures, and ensure pay equity with AI-powered compensation platforms.
Access validated salary benchmarks, labor market trends, and minimum wage data to stay competitive.
Participate in and purchase industry-specific salary surveys to obtain the most accurate, peer-reported pay data.
As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Senior Software Quality Engineer in Illinois is $148,892 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $72.
However, a Senior Software Quality Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
AI Onboarding
AI-Powered HR
Senior Software Quality Engineer Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $158,354 | $13,196 | $3,045 | $76 |
| Average | $148,892 | $12,408 | $2,863 | $72 |
| 25th Percentile | $137,516 | $11,460 | $2,645 | $66 |
S&S Activewear LLC - Bolingbrook, IL
Rogers Freels & Associates Inc - Chillicothe, IL
HirexHire - Elk Grove Village, IL
KeHE Distributors, LLC - Naperville, IL
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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
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:
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Software ... Level Senior Software Quality Engineer | $105,645 |
| Software ... Level Senior Software Quality Engineer | $129,377 |
| Senior So... Level Senior Software Quality Engineer | $149,682 |
| Software ... Level Senior Software Quality Engineer | $172,072 |
| Software ... Level Senior Software Quality Engineer | $170,443 |
What Am I Worth?
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 Senior Software Quality Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
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:
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.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software & Networking | $186,115 | $89.0 | 25% |
| Pharmaceuticals | $178,671 | $86.0 | 20% |
| Financial Services | $171,226 | $82.0 | 15% |
| Insurance | $171,226 | $82.0 | 15% |
| Biotechnology | $163,781 | $79.0 | 10% |
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.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $158,354 | $13,196 | $3,045 | $76 |
| Average | $148,892 | $12,408 | $2,863 | $72 |
| 25th Percentile | $137,516 | $11,460 | $2,645 | $66 |
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.
HirexHire
Elk Grove Village, IL
HirexHire | Elk Grove Village, IL
Job Description. Job Description. ABOUT US. HirexHire (pronounced hire by hire) is a Chicago-based recruiting and talent consultancy that integrates with c... more
6 Days Ago
Medline Industries
Northbrook, IL
Medline Industries | Northbrook, IL
Job Summary Job Description Major Responsibilities Rapidly deliver proofs of concept (POCs) and pilots, clearly articulate their impact, and challenge idea... more
7 Days Ago
Diversified Services Network, Inc.
Mossville, IL
Diversified Services Network, Inc. | Mossville, IL
Job Description. Job Description. Diversified Services Network, Inc. (DSN) is seeking a full-time. Senior C++ Software Engineer (Autonomous Systems). to jo... more
7 Days Ago
SpotOn
Chicago, IL
SpotOn | Chicago, IL
Job Description. Job Description. About SpotOn. We’re not just building restaurant tech, we’re giving independent restaurants the tools to compete and win.... more
5 Days Ago
Kunai
Chicago, IL
Kunai | Chicago, IL
Job Description. Job Description. Kunai builds full-stack technology solutions for banks, credit and payment networks, infrastructure providers, and their ... more
5 Days Ago
JLL
Chicago, IL, IL
JLL | Chicago, IL, IL
This job is with JLL, an inclusive employer and a member of myGwork – the largest global platform for the LGBTQ+ business community. Please do not contact ... more
5 Days Ago
Get a Salary Increase
Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.
Search Job Openings
Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.
Adjust Employee Salary
Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.
Price My Industry Jobs
Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.
Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.
Explore Cost of Living CalculatorSalary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.
Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.
Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:
