Lead Test Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does a Lead Test Engineer make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Lead Test Engineer in the United States is $154,311 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $74.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $180,213
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $143,809 to $167,869
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $134,247
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View as table View as graph 25% $143,809 10% $134,247 90% $180,213 75% $167,869 $154,311 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Lead Test Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $167,869 $13,989 $3,228 $81
Average $154,311 $12,859 $2,968 $74
25th Percentile $143,809 $11,984 $2,766 $69
Check out Lead Test Engineer Job Openings in the United States
Lead R&D Engineer

Powell Industries - HOUSTON, TX

Test Systems Technical Lead Engineer

Innova Solutions, Inc. - TUCSON, AZ

Test Systems Technical Lead Engineer

GeoLogics Corporation - TUCSON, AZ

Test Systems Technical Lead Engineer

22nd Century Technologies, Inc. - TUCSON, AZ

Search More Lead Test Engineer Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Lead Test Engineer Salaries

A Lead 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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Lead Test Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Lead 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): $149,419
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $149,886
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $150,665
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $151,756
  • Expert (over 8 years): $153,314
Levels Salary
Entry Level Lead Test Engineer$149,419
Intermediate Level Lead Test Engineer$149,886
Senior Level Lead Test Engineer$150,665
Specialist Level Lead Test Engineer$151,756
Expert Level Lead Test Engineer$153,314
$149,419 0 yr
$149,886 < 2 yrs
$150,665 2-4 yrs
$151,756 5-8 yrs
$153,314 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Lead 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:

  • San Jose: $194,632
  • San Francisco: $192,719
  • Oakland: $188,445

What Skills Can Increase a Lead Test Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 7.48% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Electrical Engineering (Mentioned in 1.66% Job Postings): Electrical engineering is a technical discipline concerned with the study, design and application of equipment, devices and systems which use electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism. It emerged as an identified activity in the latter half of the 19th century after commercialization of the electric telegraph, the telephone, and electrical power generation, distribution and use. Electrical engineering is now divided into a wide range of fields including, computer engineering, power engineering, telecommunications, radio-frequency engineering, signal processing, instrumentation, and electronics. Many of these disciplines overlap with other engineering branches, spanning a huge number of specializations including hardware engineering, power electronics, electromagnetics and waves, microwave engineering, nanotechnology, electrochemistry, renewable energies, mechatronics, and electrical materials science. See glossary of electrical and electronics engineering.
  • Test Automation (Mentioned in 1.38% Job Postings): Leveraging automation tools to maintain test data, execute tests, and analyze test results to improve software quality.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 7.48%
Electrical Engineering 1.66%
Test Automation 1.38%
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 Lead Test Engineer's salary.
  • Semiconductors: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Program Management: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Products and Services: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Semiconductors
$168,199
9%
Program Management
$168,199
9%
Products and Services
$166,656
8%
Computer Engineering
$165,113
7%
Electrical Engineering
$163,570
6%
Coaching
$163,570
6%
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How Education impacts a Lead Test Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Lead Test 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 Lead Test Engineer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $160,986 and $168,104).

Lead Test Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Lead Test Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.1%
High School 2.2%
Associates 6.6%
Bachelors 49.5%
Masters 38.5%
Doctorate 2.2%
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Lead Test Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Lead 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

Salary Trends for Lead Test Engineer

Salaries for a Lead Test Engineer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $141,839 in 2023 to around $141,274 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Lead Test Engineer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Lead Test Engineer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$141,839
2024
$142,074
2025
$141,274
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $141,839
2024 $142,074
2025 $141,274
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Lead Test Engineer

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Lead Test Engineer

Here are companies hiring for Lead Test Engineer and their salaries, click below for more details.

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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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