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2026 Salary Data — Jacksonville, FL
Updated April 28, 2026

QA Engineer Salary in Jacksonville: $85K Median

QA Engineers in Jacksonville, FL earn between $55K and $140K per year.

That's -8% below the US national median of $92,000 for this role.

Quick Answer

As of April 2026, the median QA Engineer salary in Jacksonville, FL is $84,640 per year — -8% below the US national median of $92,000. Salaries range from $55,016 (entry, 25th percentile) to $139,656 (90th percentile). QA Engineers in Jacksonville earned approximately $13,652 in 2025, representing 520.0% year-over-year growth.

Median
$84,640
+520.0% YoY · $7,053/mo
Entry
$66,019
0–2 years
Experienced
$111,725
5+ years
Top 10%
$139,656
Senior/lead
QA Engineer Salary — Jacksonville vs Nearby
Jacksonville
$85K
Miami
$97K
-12% vs Jacksonville
Tucson
$83K
+2% vs Jacksonville
Houston
$97K
-12% vs Jacksonville

Free ATS scan · Jacksonville employers · Results in 60 seconds

About QA Engineers in Jacksonville

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

Jacksonville Job Market

Major financial services and logistics hub on the East Coast.

Population
950K
Cost of Living
95
vs 100 US avg
Unemployment
3.8%
Median Home
$320K

Top Industries in Jacksonville

FinanceHealthcareLogisticsMilitaryInsurance

Top Employers Hiring QA Engineers

Major employers active in Jacksonville 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 — Jacksonville

PeriodEntry (25th)Median (50th)Top (90th)
Annual$55,016$84,640$139,656
Monthly$4,585$7,053$11,638
Weekly$1,058$1,628$2,686
Hourly$26$41$67

Based on 2080 working hours/year. Local figures derived from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics national median ($92,000) adjusted for Jacksonville's cost-of-living multiplier (0.92×, sourced from BEA Regional Price Parities).

QA Engineer Take-Home Pay in Jacksonville

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

Net Annual Take-Home
$67,842.24
Per month$5,654
Biweekly paycheck$2,609
Effective tax rate19.8%

Tax Breakdown on $84,640

Gross salary$84,640
Federal income tax−$10,322.8
Florida state tax−$0
FICA (Social Security + Medicare)−$6,474.96
Take-home (net)$67,842.24

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 — Jacksonville

Career-stage progression for QA Engineers in Jacksonville.

ExperienceAnnual Salary
0–1 yr$60,737
2–3 yr$66,019
4–6 yr$88,872
7–10 yr$111,725
11–15 yr$131,836
15+ yr$125,691

Curve derived from BLS percentile data adjusted for Jacksonville's 0.92× cost-of-living multiplier. Highlighted row = 7–10 year experienced level.

Year-Over-Year Trend

+520.0% vs 2025

2025 median:$13,652
2026 median:$84,640
Change:+$70,988

Technology sector growth driven by demand for Playwright and Cypress.

Is This A Good Salary?

Solid above median

Real purchasing power lands comfortably above the national middle-class threshold once cost of living is factored in. Homeownership and meaningful retirement savings are achievable on a single income.

COL-Adjusted Purchasing Power
$89,095
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 Jacksonville

Walk-away anchor: $73,600 (offers below this are below market for Jacksonville).

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 $112K–$140K for experienced roles, citing Jacksonville market data and your specific Playwright/Cypress expertise.

QA Engineer Salary FAQ — Jacksonville

What is the average QA Engineer salary in Jacksonville, FL?
The average QA Engineer salary in Jacksonville is $84,640 per year as of April 2026 — $7,053/month, $1,628/week, or about $41/hour. Salaries range from $55,016 (entry, 25th percentile) up to $139,656 (experienced, 90th percentile). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics adjusted for Jacksonville's cost-of-living multiplier (0.92×).
Is $84,640 a good QA Engineer salary in Jacksonville?
Solid above median. Real purchasing power lands comfortably above the national middle-class threshold once cost of living is factored in. Homeownership and meaningful retirement savings are achievable on a single income. Jacksonville's cost-of-living index is 95 (vs 100 nationally), giving $84,640 a real purchasing power of approximately $89,095 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 $84,640 in Jacksonville?
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 Jacksonville specifically (median home price $320,000), a $84,640 salary supports a comfortable lifestyle.
Is $84,640 enough for a single person in Jacksonville?
A single adult in Jacksonville typically needs ~$42,750 for a comfortable lifestyle (housing, food, transport, healthcare, modest savings). A $84,640 salary is well above that threshold — a single person can live comfortably with significant savings room.
Is $84,640 enough for a couple in Jacksonville?
A couple (one earner) in Jacksonville typically needs ~$68,400 for a comfortable lifestyle. A $84,640 salary as the sole household income is sufficient — enabling moderate housing, savings, and discretionary spending. Two earners at $84,640 each ($169,280 household) provides solid middle-class comfort.
Is $84,640 enough for a family of 4 in Jacksonville?
A family of 4 (one earner) in Jacksonville typically needs ~$104,500 for a comfortable middle-class lifestyle (housing for 4, childcare/school, food, healthcare, transport, savings). A $84,640 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 Jacksonville. Childcare costs in Jacksonville typically run $14K-$27K per child per year.
What is the take-home pay for a QA Engineer in Jacksonville?
On a $84,640 QA Engineer salary in Jacksonville, FL, you take home approximately $67,842.24 per year ($5,654/month, $2,609 per biweekly paycheck) after taxes. Breakdown: federal $10,322.8, state $0, FICA $6,474.96. Effective tax rate: 19.8%. (Single filer, standard deduction, no other adjustments.)
How much do QA Engineers in Jacksonville earn compared to the US average?
QA Engineers in Jacksonville earn approximately 8% less than the US national median for this role ($92,000 nationally vs $84,640 in Jacksonville). However, Jacksonville's cost-of-living index of 95 means real purchasing power is approximately $89,095 when adjusted for local prices.
What does an entry-level QA Engineer earn in Jacksonville?
Entry-level QA Engineers in Jacksonville typically start at around $66,019 (0–2 years experience). With 5+ years, QA Engineers earn $111,725 or more. Top earners (90th percentile) reach $139,656+, typically at senior or lead levels with specialized skills.
Did QA Engineer salaries in Jacksonville increase in 2026?
Yes — QA Engineer salaries in Jacksonville grew approximately 520.0% year-over-year, from $13,652 in 2025 to $84,640 in 2026 (+$70,988). This reflects the broader Technology sector's compensation trend, driven by Playwright and Cypress demand.
What's the job outlook for QA Engineers in Jacksonville?
QA engineer roles projected to grow 10% through 2034. Shift-left testing and test automation skills commanding premiums. Jacksonville's top industries include Finance, Healthcare, Logistics, and the metro's current unemployment rate is 3.8% — a tight labor market favoring candidates.
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 Jacksonville.
Who are the top employers hiring QA Engineers in Jacksonville?
Top employers hiring QA Engineers in or near Jacksonville 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 Jacksonville?
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 Jacksonville?
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 Jacksonville?
Bachelor's degree or equivalent (bootcamps acceptable) is the typical path. However, Jacksonville'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 Jacksonville are computed by adjusting the BLS national median ($92,000) by Jacksonville's cost-of-living multiplier of 0.92× — 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 Jacksonville

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

QA Engineer Salary in Other Cities

San Antonio, TX$86KColumbus, OH$89KIndianapolis, IN$86KDetroit, MI$86KMemphis, TN$81KOklahoma City, OK$81KLas Vegas, NV$87KLouisville, KY$84K

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