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2026 Salary Data — Houston, TX
Updated April 28, 2026

QA Engineer Salary in Houston: $97K Median

QA Engineers in Houston, TX earn between $63K and $159K per year.

That's +5% above the US national median of $92,000 for this role.

Quick Answer

As of April 2026, the median QA Engineer salary in Houston, TX is $96,600 per year — +5% above the US national median of $92,000. Salaries range from $62,790 (entry, 25th percentile) to $159,390 (90th percentile). QA Engineers in Houston earned approximately $15,581 in 2025, representing 520.0% year-over-year growth.

Median
$96,600
+520.0% YoY · $8,050/mo
Entry
$75,348
0–2 years
Experienced
$127,512
5+ years
Top 10%
$159,390
Senior/lead
QA Engineer Salary — Houston vs Nearby
Houston
$97K
San Antonio
$86K
+13% vs Houston
Dallas
$97K
+0% vs Houston
Austin
$106K
-9% vs Houston

Free ATS scan · Houston employers · Results in 60 seconds

About QA Engineers in Houston

QA engineers ensure software quality through automated and manual testing. They build test frameworks, write integration tests, and prevent regressions from reaching production.

Core Responsibilities

  • Write automated tests (Selenium, Cypress, Playwright)
  • Design test plans and strategies
  • Perform regression and smoke testing
  • Build CI/CD test pipelines
  • Track and triage defects

Education & Certifications

Typical path: Bachelor's degree or equivalent (bootcamps acceptable)

In-demand certifications

ISTQB FoundationCertified Software Tester (CSTE)Selenium WebDriver

Houston Job Market

Energy capital with massive medical center and growing tech presence.

Population
2320K
Cost of Living
96
vs 100 US avg
Unemployment
4.5%
Median Home
$320K

Top Industries in Houston

Energy/Oil & GasHealthcareAerospace (NASA)Manufacturing

Top Employers Hiring QA Engineers

Major employers active in Houston or hiring remotely from this metro.

Microsoft
Google
Amazon
Salesforce
Oracle
Adobe
Cisco
Capgemini

All major employers use ATS software.

Workday, Greenhouse, Taleo, and iCIMS auto-screen 75% of resumes before a human ever sees them. Scan your resume free to see your match rate.

2026 Hot Skills & Resume Keywords

Skills that command salary premiums and pass ATS keyword filters.

Hottest 2026 Skills

These appear in the highest-paying QA Engineer listings.

PlaywrightCypressAPI testingCI/CD test pipelinesAI-assisted testingperformance testing

ATS Resume Keywords

Include these naturally throughout your resume.

SeleniumCypressPlaywrighttest automationJIRACI/CDAPI testingPostmanregression testingagile
Career Outlook
+10% Growth Projected (2024-2034)

QA engineer roles projected to grow 10% through 2034. Shift-left testing and test automation skills commanding premiums.

QA Engineer Salary Breakdown — Houston

PeriodEntry (25th)Median (50th)Top (90th)
Annual$62,790$96,600$159,390
Monthly$5,233$8,050$13,283
Weekly$1,208$1,858$3,065
Hourly$30$46$77

Based on 2080 working hours/year. Local figures derived from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics national median ($92,000) adjusted for Houston's cost-of-living multiplier (1.05×, sourced from BEA Regional Price Parities).

QA Engineer Take-Home Pay in Houston

After federal, state and FICA taxes — single filer, standard deduction.

Net Annual Take-Home
$76,256.1
Per month$6,355
Biweekly paycheck$2,933
Effective tax rate21.1%

Tax Breakdown on $96,600

Gross salary$96,600
Federal income tax−$12,954
Texas state tax−$0
FICA (Social Security + Medicare)−$7,389.9
Take-home (net)$76,256.1

Estimates assume single filer, standard deduction ($14,600 for 2026), no 401(k)/HSA/dependents. Actual take-home varies with deductions, dependents, and benefits elections. Not tax advice.

QA Engineer Salary by Experience — Houston

Career-stage progression for QA Engineers in Houston.

ExperienceAnnual Salary
0–1 yr$69,320
2–3 yr$75,348
4–6 yr$101,430
7–10 yr$127,512
11–15 yr$150,464
15+ yr$143,451

Curve derived from BLS percentile data adjusted for Houston's 1.05× cost-of-living multiplier. Highlighted row = 7–10 year experienced level.

Year-Over-Year Trend

+520.0% vs 2025

2025 median:$15,581
2026 median:$96,600
Change:+$81,019

Technology sector growth driven by demand for Playwright and Cypress.

Is This A Good Salary?

Excellent

Adjusted for local cost of living, this salary delivers top-tier real purchasing power - well above what the same nominal pay would buy in most US metros. Strong savings, home-buying, and discretionary spending are all realistic.

COL-Adjusted Purchasing Power
$100,625
Solidly middle-class on the median - manageable, but disciplined budgeting is needed to save aggressively or buy a home.

How to Negotiate Your QA Engineer Salary in Houston

Walk-away anchor: $84,000 (offers below this are below market for Houston).

Leverage Points

  • Reference levels.fyi total compensation data for your level (L4/L5/etc.) at comparable companies
  • Quantify recent shipped impact: latency reduced, revenue driven, on-call incidents resolved
  • Hold a competing offer (or credible interview pipeline) before the salary conversation
  • Highlight in-demand skill premiums: LLMs, Kubernetes, Rust, distributed systems

Beyond Base Salary, Negotiate

Sign-on bonus ($25K-$100K is standard at Big Tech)RSU refreshers and accelerated vesting cliffsRemote/hybrid flexibility and home-office stipendAnnual learning budget and conference allowanceSabbatical eligibility after 4-5 years

What To Say

"Based on levels.fyi data and what I'm seeing from comparable offers, total compensation for this level is closer to $X base plus equity. Can we close the gap on base or front-load the RSU grant?"

Anchor on $128K–$159K for experienced roles, citing Houston market data and your specific Playwright/Cypress expertise.

QA Engineer Salary FAQ — Houston

What is the average QA Engineer salary in Houston, TX?
The average QA Engineer salary in Houston is $96,600 per year as of April 2026 — $8,050/month, $1,858/week, or about $46/hour. Salaries range from $62,790 (entry, 25th percentile) up to $159,390 (experienced, 90th percentile). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics adjusted for Houston's cost-of-living multiplier (1.05×).
Is $96,600 a good QA Engineer salary in Houston?
Excellent. Adjusted for local cost of living, this salary delivers top-tier real purchasing power - well above what the same nominal pay would buy in most US metros. Strong savings, home-buying, and discretionary spending are all realistic. Houston's cost-of-living index is 96 (vs 100 nationally), giving $96,600 a real purchasing power of approximately $100,625 in national terms. Solidly middle-class on the median - manageable, but disciplined budgeting is needed to save aggressively or buy a home.
Can you live on $96,600 in Houston?
Dual-income households support a comfortable family lifestyle. Single-earner families on the median may need to compromise on neighborhood, square footage, or college savings. Aim for 28-30% of pre-tax income on rent. The classic 30% rule still works here, though housing costs are creeping up faster than wages. For Houston specifically (median home price $320,000), a $96,600 salary supports a comfortable lifestyle.
Is $96,600 enough for a single person in Houston?
A single adult in Houston typically needs ~$43,200 for a comfortable lifestyle (housing, food, transport, healthcare, modest savings). A $96,600 salary is well above that threshold — a single person can live comfortably with significant savings room.
Is $96,600 enough for a couple in Houston?
A couple (one earner) in Houston typically needs ~$69,120 for a comfortable lifestyle. A $96,600 salary as the sole household income is sufficient — enabling moderate housing, savings, and discretionary spending. Two earners at $96,600 each ($193,200 household) provides solid middle-class comfort.
Is $96,600 enough for a family of 4 in Houston?
A family of 4 (one earner) in Houston typically needs ~$105,600 for a comfortable middle-class lifestyle (housing for 4, childcare/school, food, healthcare, transport, savings). A $96,600 salary as the sole household income is below the comfortable threshold — most families need a second income or to live in cheaper suburbs/exurbs of Houston. Childcare costs in Houston typically run $14K-$27K per child per year.
What is the take-home pay for a QA Engineer in Houston?
On a $96,600 QA Engineer salary in Houston, TX, you take home approximately $76,256.1 per year ($6,355/month, $2,933 per biweekly paycheck) after taxes. Breakdown: federal $12,954, state $0, FICA $7,389.9. Effective tax rate: 21.1%. (Single filer, standard deduction, no other adjustments.)
How much do QA Engineers in Houston earn compared to the US average?
QA Engineers in Houston earn approximately 5% more than the US national median for this role ($92,000 nationally vs $96,600 in Houston). However, Houston's cost-of-living index of 96 means real purchasing power is approximately $100,625 when adjusted for local prices.
What does an entry-level QA Engineer earn in Houston?
Entry-level QA Engineers in Houston typically start at around $75,348 (0–2 years experience). With 5+ years, QA Engineers earn $127,512 or more. Top earners (90th percentile) reach $159,390+, typically at senior or lead levels with specialized skills.
Did QA Engineer salaries in Houston increase in 2026?
Yes — QA Engineer salaries in Houston grew approximately 520.0% year-over-year, from $15,581 in 2025 to $96,600 in 2026 (+$81,019). This reflects the broader Technology sector's compensation trend, driven by Playwright and Cypress demand.
What's the job outlook for QA Engineers in Houston?
QA engineer roles projected to grow 10% through 2034. Shift-left testing and test automation skills commanding premiums. Houston's top industries include Energy/Oil & Gas, Healthcare, Aerospace (NASA), and the metro's current unemployment rate is 4.5% — steady demand for skilled workers.
What skills are most in demand for QA Engineers in 2026?
The hottest 2026 skills for QA Engineers are: Playwright, Cypress, API testing, CI/CD test pipelines, AI-assisted testing, performance testing. ATS systems specifically scan for these keywords. Adding them to your resume — naturally and in context — significantly improves your match rate with employers in Houston.
Who are the top employers hiring QA Engineers in Houston?
Top employers hiring QA Engineers in or near Houston include: Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Salesforce, Oracle, Adobe. Most use ATS software (Workday, Greenhouse, Taleo, iCIMS) to screen resumes — meaning your resume must be ATS-optimized to even get a human reader.
How do I negotiate a higher QA Engineer salary in Houston?
Based on levels.fyi data and what I'm seeing from comparable offers, total compensation for this level is closer to $X base plus equity. Can we close the gap on base or front-load the RSU grant? Key leverage points for Technology negotiations: Reference levels.fyi total compensation data for your level (L4/L5/etc.) at comparable companies; Quantify recent shipped impact: latency reduced, revenue driven, on-call incidents resolved; Hold a competing offer (or credible interview pipeline) before the salary conversation. Beyond base salary, negotiate for: Sign-on bonus ($25K-$100K is standard at Big Tech), RSU refreshers and accelerated vesting cliffs, Remote/hybrid flexibility and home-office stipend, Annual learning budget and conference allowance.
How can I increase my QA Engineer salary in Houston?
Three highest-leverage moves: (1) Add 2026's hot skills (Playwright, Cypress, API testing) — they command 15-30% premiums. (2) Get a recognized certification (e.g., ISTQB Foundation or Certified Software Tester (CSTE)). (3) Tailor your resume to each role's keywords — CVCraft's ATS scanner shows you exactly what's missing.
What education do I need to become a QA Engineer in Houston?
Bachelor's degree or equivalent (bootcamps acceptable) is the typical path. However, Houston's competitive market increasingly values demonstrable skills, portfolios, and certifications alongside (or in place of) traditional degrees — particularly for Technology roles.

Methodology & Sources

QA Engineer salary figures for Houston are computed by adjusting the BLS national median ($92,000) by Houston's cost-of-living multiplier of 1.05× — a composite of regional wage data and price parities. Year-over-year change (520.0%) reflects the Technology sector's 2025-2026 wage growth per BLS Employment Cost Index trends. Last reviewed April 28, 2026.

Data Sources

Related Roles in Houston

Software Engineer →DevOps Engineer →Frontend Developer →Data Scientist →Product Manager →Web Developer →

QA Engineer Salary in Other Cities

Chicago, IL$97KPhiladelphia, PA$96KSan Antonio, TX$86KDallas, TX$97KAustin, TX$106KFort Worth, TX$94KCharlotte, NC$94KEl Paso, TX$78K

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