QA Engineer: Career Overview
Official government data · Updated April 2026
QA Engineers earn a national median of $102,610/yr with 10% projected employment growth over 2024–2034. The role draws on expertise in Computers and Electronics, English Language, Mathematics.
Median Salary
$102,610
National · 2024
10-Year Growth
10%
Faster than average
Employed Nationally
199,800
2024 data
Typical Education
Bachelor's degree
Entry-level
What Employers Expect From a QA Engineer
These are the competencies recruiters screen for in QA Engineer candidates, ranked by importance. Your resume should demonstrate each one:
Knowledge Areas
Core knowledge domains most important for QA Engineer performance, based on verified occupational data.
Tools & Technologies
High-demand tools and technologies for QA Engineer roles.
Job Outlook: 2024–2034
Employment is projected to grow 10% for QA Engineer roles over the 2024–2034 decade. That's faster than average compared to the 4% average across all occupations.
- Current Employment
- 199,800
- Projected Growth
- 10%
- Typical Education
- Bachelor's degree
Top Employers
Companies actively hiring for QA Engineer roles, ranked by disclosure volume. Salaries reflect base pay from employer disclosure records.
| Company | Median Disclosed Salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Broadcom Inc | $180,340 | 3 |
| Salesforce Inc | $151,537 | 36 |
| Dell Technologies | $146,813 | 9 |
| Charles Schwab & Co | $142,280 | 23 |
| Elevance Health | $120,316 | 10 |
| ServiceNow Inc | $118,516 | 49 |
Base salary only — excludes equity and bonuses.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a QA Engineer do?
- QA Engineers apply expertise in Computers and Electronics, English Language, Mathematics to perform their core responsibilities. Key competencies include Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking.
- How much does a QA Engineer make?
- The national median salary for a QA Engineer is $102,610 per year based on official government wage survey data. Actual compensation varies by location, experience, and employer.
- Is QA Engineer a good career in 2026?
- Employment for QA Engineer roles is projected to grow 10% over the 2024–2034 decade — faster than average compared to all occupations. There are currently 199,800 workers in this occupation nationally.
- What education do you need to become a QA Engineer?
- The typical entry-level education for a QA Engineer is Bachelor's degree. Requirements vary by employer and specialization.
- What skills do QA Engineers need?
- The most important skills for QA Engineer roles based on verified occupational data: Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking, Writing, Monitoring, Programming, Complex Problem Solving, Quality Control Analysis, Systems Evaluation. Key tools and technologies include: Amazon Web Services AWS software, Apache JMeter, Atlassian JIRA, C#, C++.
Does Your Resume Cover These Skills?
Tap the skills that are currently on your resume.
Salary, employment, and skills figures sourced from official U.S. government records and occupational databases. Actual compensation and requirements vary by location, experience, and employer. Salary and employment figures from official U.S. government records. Actual compensation varies by location, experience, and employer.