QA Engineer Salary in USA 2025
Quality assurance, test automation, and SDET careers
Average QA Engineer Salary
How Much Do QA Engineers Earn in 2025?
QA engineers ensure software quality through testing, bug identification, and quality processes. They work across the development lifecycle—from requirements review to release validation—using manual testing, automated test frameworks, and continuous integration pipelines.
2025 QA engineer salaries show significant variation based on automation skills: average $70,000–$100,000 overall, with manual QA testers earning $55,000–$80,000 and test automation engineers earning $80,000–$120,000. SDETs (Software Development Engineers in Test) at top tech companies earn $100,000–$150,000+.
Automation skills create the largest salary gap—test automation engineers earn 30–50% more than manual testers. The industry is shifting toward automation, making coding skills increasingly valuable. For context, see the average salary in the US.
QA Engineer Salary Snapshot
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| QA Engineer (Average) | $70,000–$100,000 |
| Manual QA Tester | $55,000–$80,000 |
| Test Automation Engineer | $80,000–$120,000 |
| SDET | $100,000–$150,000 |
| QA Manager | $110,000–$150,000 |
| Hourly Rate | $35–$60/hour |
Use our salary calculator to convert rates.
Manual QA vs. Test Automation Engineer Salary
The automation gap is the biggest salary differentiator:
| Role Type | Salary Range | Key Skills |
|---|---|---|
| Manual QA Tester | $55K–$80K | Test cases, exploratory testing |
| QA Analyst | $60K–$85K | Test planning, documentation |
| QA Engineer (Hybrid) | $70K–$100K | Manual + some automation |
| Automation Engineer | $85K–$120K | Selenium, Cypress, frameworks |
| SDET | $100K–$150K | Full-stack testing, CI/CD |
Manual QA Tester
Salary: $55,000–$80,000
Executes test cases manually, performs exploratory testing, documents bugs. Entry point to QA career. Demand declining as automation increases—career ceiling limited without learning automation.
Test Automation Engineer
Salary: $85,000–$120,000 (+40–50% vs manual)
Builds and maintains automated test frameworks. Skills: Selenium, Cypress, Playwright, Python/Java/JavaScript, API testing. High demand, growing market.
SDET (Software Development Engineer in Test)
Salary: $100,000–$150,000
Developer-level skills applied to testing. Builds test infrastructure, integrates with CI/CD. Treated as software engineers at top companies—FAANG SDETs earn $150K–$220K+ total comp.
QA Engineer Salary by Experience Level
| Experience Level | Manual QA | Automation QA |
|---|---|---|
| Entry (0–2 yrs) | $50K–$65K | $65K–$85K |
| Mid (2–5 yrs) | $60K–$80K | $80K–$110K |
| Senior (5–8 yrs) | $75K–$95K | $100K–$135K |
| Staff/Principal (8+ yrs) | $85K–$110K | $120K–$160K |
| Manager/Director | $100K–$140K | $130K–$180K |
Entry-Level QA (0–2 Years)
Manual: $50,000–$65,000 | Automation: $65,000–$85,000
Entry automation engineers start $15K–$20K higher. Many start manual and transition to automation within 1–2 years.
Senior QA Engineer (5–8 Years)
Manual: $75,000–$95,000 | Automation: $100,000–$135,000
Senior automation engineers approach software engineer pay. Technical leadership, framework architecture, mentoring.
QA Engineer Salary by Location
| Location | Salary Range | Premium |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $95K–$150K | +30–40% |
| Seattle, WA | $90K–$140K | +25–35% |
| New York, NY | $85K–$135K | +20–30% |
| Austin, TX | $75K–$115K | +10–15% |
| Remote (US) | $70K–$110K | Variable |
| National Average | $70K–$100K | Baseline |
Remote Work
QA roles highly remote-friendly. Many companies hire nationally. Remote QA engineers earn $70K–$110K typically. Some pay location-adjusted, others flat national rates. See our remote job salary guide.
QA Engineer Salary by Industry
| Industry | Salary Range | Key Factors |
|---|---|---|
| Big Tech (FAANG) | $120K–$200K TC | SDET roles, high equity |
| Finance/Fintech | $90K–$140K | Regulatory, security testing |
| Healthcare Tech | $80K–$125K | FDA compliance, validation |
| SaaS/Startups | $75K–$120K | Automation focus |
| Gaming | $70K–$110K | Game testing specialty |
| Enterprise/Consulting | $65K–$100K | Varied projects |
Big Tech (Highest Pay)
Total Comp: $120,000–$200,000+
Google, Meta, Amazon, Apple. SDET title, treated as engineers. Base + RSUs + bonus. L4 SDET at Google: $180K–$220K TC.
How to Increase Your QA Engineer Salary
Learn Test Automation
Automation engineers earn $85K–$120K versus manual $55K–$80K (+40–50%).
Become an SDET
SDETs earn $100K–$150K. Requires strong programming skills—Python, Java, JavaScript.
Target Big Tech
FAANG SDETs earn $150K–$220K+ TC versus typical $80K–$120K (+50–80%).
Specialize in High-Value Testing
Security testing, performance testing, and mobile automation command premiums.
Get Certified
ISTQB, AWS Certified, and tool-specific certs (Selenium, Cypress) demonstrate expertise.
Move to Management
QA Managers earn $110K–$150K, Directors $140K–$200K.
See our salary negotiation guide for strategies.
Career Path and Related Roles
| Career Stage | Position | Salary Range |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | QA Tester/Analyst | $50K–$70K |
| Mid | QA Engineer | $70K–$100K |
| Senior | Senior QA/Automation Engineer | $95K–$130K |
| Staff | Staff SDET/Principal QA | $120K–$160K |
| Management | QA Manager/Director | $130K–$180K |
Related Roles
Software Engineer: $100,000–$180,000 (lateral move for SDETs)
DevOps Engineer: $110,000–$160,000
Quality Engineer (Manufacturing): $70,000–$100,000
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average QA engineer salary in 2025?
QA engineers earn $70,000–$100,000 on average. Manual QA testers earn $55,000–$80,000, automation engineers $80,000–$120,000, and SDETs $100,000–$150,000. Big Tech SDETs earn $150K–$220K+ total comp.
Can QA engineers make $100K?
Yes. Senior automation engineers earn $100K–$135K. SDETs earn $100K–$150K. Big Tech QA/SDET roles reach $150K–$220K+ TC. Manual QA typically caps below $100K. See jobs that pay $100K.
Is QA engineering a good career in 2025?
Yes, with caveats. Automation QA is strong—high demand, good pay, clear growth. Manual-only QA is declining as companies automate. Best strategy: learn automation skills. Career path to SDET, management, or pivot to development possible.
How much more do automation engineers make than manual QA?
Automation engineers earn 30–50% more: $85K–$120K versus $55K–$80K for manual. SDETs earn even more at $100K–$150K. The gap widens at senior levels.
What skills do I need for test automation?
Programming (Python, Java, JavaScript), test frameworks (Selenium, Cypress, Playwright), API testing (Postman, REST Assured), CI/CD (Jenkins, GitHub Actions), and version control (Git). Learning path: start with one language and framework, expand from there.