By QualityAssuranceJobs.com Team · Published February 27, 2026
Moving into QA management changes the compensation equation significantly. You’re no longer paid primarily for technical execution — you’re paid for building teams, setting quality strategy, and owning outcomes across entire product lines. That shift shows up clearly in the numbers.
This guide covers what QA managers actually earn in 2026, how experience and location affect pay, and which skills separate the top earners from the rest.
A QA manager leads the quality assurance function for a team or organization. Responsibilities typically include:
The role sits at the intersection of people management and technical leadership. Effective QA managers understand both the engineering details and the business context behind quality decisions.
Based on data aggregated from Glassdoor, Levels.fyi, and Robert Half’s 2026 salary guide, here’s what compensation looks like nationally:
| Experience Level | Salary Range | Median |
|---|---|---|
| New manager (1–3 years managing) | $105,000 – $130,000 | $115,000 |
| Experienced (4–7 years managing) | $130,000 – $160,000 | $142,000 |
| Senior / Director-level (8+ years) | $155,000 – $195,000 | $172,000 |
These figures represent base salary for full-time US roles. Total compensation — including bonuses, equity, and profit sharing — can add 15–30% at mid-size and large tech companies. The national median QA manager salary sits around $140,000 in 2026, reflecting steady growth driven by the expanding scope of quality engineering.
Management salaries vary more by geography than individual contributor roles, partly because manager compensation often includes location-adjusted equity and bonus targets.
| Location | Median Salary | vs. National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco / Bay Area | $185,000 | +32% |
| New York City | $165,000 | +18% |
| Seattle | $170,000 | +21% |
| Austin | $145,000 | +4% |
| Chicago | $135,000 | –4% |
| Atlanta | $128,000 | –9% |
| Remote (US-based) | $140,000 | Even |
Remote QA manager roles have become common, though some companies still require managers to be in-office or hybrid for team-building and cross-functional coordination. Remote pay generally tracks the national median.
Technical depth matters more for QA managers than many people expect. The highest-paid managers combine leadership ability with concrete technical credibility.
High-impact skills for higher compensation:
Looking for your next QA management role? Browse current openings on QualityAssuranceJobs.com — every listing is QA-specific, so you can skip the noise and find roles that match your level.
The jump from senior QA engineer to QA manager isn’t always a pay increase — at least not immediately. Here’s how the roles compare at equivalent seniority:
| Role | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Senior QA Engineer | $120,000 |
| Senior SDET | $130,000 |
| QA Manager | $142,000 |
| QA Director | $172,000 |
The salary premium for management grows with tenure. A new QA manager may earn only slightly more than a senior engineer, but experienced managers and directors pull significantly ahead. The tradeoff: management compensation comes with broader accountability, people responsibilities, and less hands-on technical work.
For a detailed look at individual contributor compensation, see our QA Engineer Salary Guide 2026 and SDET Salary Guide 2026.
Management negotiation requires different ammunition than IC negotiation. Focus on these areas:
Is QA manager a good career path? Yes. The role offers strong compensation, clear advancement toward director and VP-level positions, and consistent demand across industries. Companies that invest in quality need people to lead those efforts.
Do QA managers need to code? Not daily, but technical fluency matters. The best QA managers can review test code, evaluate framework decisions, and have credible conversations with engineers. Managers who can’t engage technically often struggle to earn their team’s respect.
What’s the path from QA manager to director? Typically, it involves managing multiple teams or owning quality across an entire product line. Directors are expected to set organizational strategy, manage budgets, and influence engineering leadership — not just run a single team.
The QA manager salary in 2026 ranges from $105,000 for new managers to $195,000+ at the director level, with a national median around $140,000. Compensation grows significantly with experience, and managers who combine leadership skills with genuine technical depth consistently earn at the top of the range. If you’re an experienced QA professional weighing the management track, the financial case is strong — and gets stronger the longer you stay in it.