The Top 27 Best-Paying Cities for QA Engineers in 2024
These are the top 27 best-paying cities for QA engineers in the United States in 2024, according to the more than 10 million verified professionals on the professional social network Blind.
Blind ranked the best-paying cities by the highest average total compensation. Total compensation includes a role’s salary, equity or stock-based compensation, and cash bonus.
The average salary of a QA engineer in the United States is between $83,572 and $135,873 in 2024, according to Blind and its exclusive compensation data and insights. Salaries can be higher for senior QA engineers or heads of quality assurance.
A QA engineer’s pay is often higher when considering the total compensation for the role. According to Blind’s pay benchmarking tool, the average total compensation of a QA engineer in the United States can be as high as $176,474 in 2024.
1. Cupertino, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $176,474
- Median total compensation: $165,000
- Average annual salary: $135,873
- Median annual salary: $133,000
2. San Jose, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $155,369
- Median total compensation: $150,000
- Average annual salary: $131,897
- Median annual salary: $130,500
3. Sunnyvale, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $153,671
- Median total compensation: $155,011
- Average annual salary: $131,316
- Median annual salary: $135,000
4. Santa Clara, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $149,406
- Median total compensation: $146,500
- Average annual salary: $131,604
- Median annual salary: $128,000
5. Mountain View, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $148,296
- Median total compensation: $131,625
- Average annual salary: $128,865
- Median annual salary: $122,500
6. Pleasanton, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $145,944
- Median total compensation: $156,000
- Average annual salary: $121,277
- Median annual salary: $121,000
7. San Francisco
- Average total compensation: $145,046
- Median total compensation: $140,750
- Average annual salary: $122,873
- Median annual salary: $120,250
8. Seattle
- Average total compensation: $137,294
- Median total compensation: $135,500
- Average annual salary: $120,276
- Median annual salary: $120,000
9. Palo Alto, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $134,450
- Median total compensation: $140,800
- Average annual salary: $122,061
- Median annual salary: $125,000
10. Denver
- Average total compensation: $134,288
- Median total compensation: $147,500
- Average annual salary: $117,761
- Median annual salary: $112,500
11. San Diego
- Average total compensation: $132,675
- Median total compensation: $129,000
- Average annual salary: $110,422
- Median annual salary: $109,000
12. Redwood City, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $130,722
- Median total compensation: $132,000
- Average annual salary: $122,833
- Median annual salary: $125,000
13. Austin, Texas
- Average total compensation: $130,698
- Median total compensation: $129,168
- Average annual salary: $111,489
- Median annual salary: $117,300
14. New York
- Average total compensation: $130,597
- Median total compensation:$130,000
- Average annual salary: $115,362
- Median annual salary: $120,000
15. Hillsboro, Ore.
- Average total compensation: $126,833
- Median total compensation: $125,000
- Average annual salary: $112,311
- Median annual salary: $110,000
16. Bellevue, Wash.
- Average total compensation: $125,777
- Median total compensation: $117,000
- Average annual salary: $106,333
- Median annual salary: $90,000
17. Irvine, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $122,007
- Median total compensation: $120,000
- Average annual salary: $110,142
- Median annual salary: $120,000
18. Natick, Mass.
- Average total compensation: $121,714
- Median total compensation: $119,000
- Average annual salary: $112,428
- Median annual salary: $110,500
19. Boston
- Average total compensation: $115,805
- Median total compensation: $107,500
- Average annual salary: $104,707
- Median annual salary: $101,000
20. Los Angeles
- Average total compensation: $115,574
- Median total compensation: $95,000
- Average annual salary: $99,741
- Median annual salary: $94,000
21. Fremont, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $114,282
- Median total compensation: $114,000
- Average annual salary: $102,960
- Median annual salary: $106,500
22. Minneapolis
- Average total compensation: $112,083
- Median total compensation: $112,000
- Average annual salary: $106,611
- Median annual salary: $111,000
23. Washington, D.C.
- Average total compensation: $109,284
- Median total compensation: $109,500
- Average annual salary: $99,515
- Median annual salary: $100,000
24. Atlanta
- Average total compensation: $100,237
- Median total compensation: $108,150
- Average annual salary: $83,572
- Median annual salary: $87,300
25. Dallas
- Average total compensation: $99,305
- Median total compensation: $96,000
- Average annual salary: $91,224
- Median annual salary: $90,000
26. Orlando, Fla.
- Average total compensation: $98,575
- Median total compensation: $94,100
- Average annual salary: $94,725
- Median annual salary: $91,250
27. Chicago
- Average total compensation: $92,154
- Median total compensation: $77,000
- Average annual salary: $86,427
- Median annual salary: $75,000
Methodology
Blind analyzed the annual salaries and total compensation submitted by QA engineers in the United States on its total compensation and salary benchmarking tool. The list excludes seniority titles, such as senior QA engineer, heads of quality assurance or similar designations.
Cities were ranked by the average total compensation, including annual salary paid in cash and, if applicable, any stock-based compensation and cash bonuses reported.
All data is self-reported by verified professionals on the professional social network Blind.
