90% OFF - $9.99
11:59:59
Claim Lifetime Deal
2026 Salary Data — New York, NY
Updated April 28, 2026

QA Engineer Salary in New York: $124K Median

QA Engineers in New York, NY earn between $81K and $205K per year.

That's +35% above the US national median of $92,000 for this role.

Quick Answer

As of April 2026, the median QA Engineer salary in New York, NY is $124,200 per year — +35% above the US national median of $92,000. Salaries range from $80,730 (entry, 25th percentile) to $204,930 (90th percentile). QA Engineers in New York earned approximately $20,032 in 2025, representing 520.0% year-over-year growth.

Median
$124,200
+520.0% YoY · $10,350/mo
Entry
$96,876
0–2 years
Experienced
$163,944
5+ years
Top 10%
$204,930
Senior/lead
QA Engineer Salary — New York vs Nearby
New York
$124K
Oakland
$129K
-4% vs New York
Los Angeles
$118K
+5% vs New York
Seattle
$121K
+2% vs New York

Free ATS scan · New York employers · Results in 60 seconds

About QA Engineers in New York

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

New York Job Market

Largest US metro and global financial capital with massive job market across all sectors.

Population
8336K
Cost of Living
187
vs 100 US avg
Unemployment
4.2%
Median Home
$850K

Top Industries in New York

FinanceMediaTechReal EstateHealthcare

Top Employers Hiring QA Engineers

Major employers active in New York 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 — New York

PeriodEntry (25th)Median (50th)Top (90th)
Annual$80,730$124,200$204,930
Monthly$6,728$10,350$17,078
Weekly$1,553$2,388$3,941
Hourly$39$60$99

Based on 2080 working hours/year. Local figures derived from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics national median ($92,000) adjusted for New York's cost-of-living multiplier (1.35×, sourced from BEA Regional Price Parities).

QA Engineer Take-Home Pay in New York

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

Net Annual Take-Home
$83,654.308
Per month$6,971
Biweekly paycheck$3,217
Effective tax rate32.6%

Tax Breakdown on $124,200

Gross salary$124,200
Federal income tax−$19,151
New York state tax−$7,079.4
New York local tax−$4,813.992
FICA (Social Security + Medicare)−$9,501.3
Take-home (net)$83,654.308

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 — New York

Career-stage progression for QA Engineers in New York.

ExperienceAnnual Salary
0–1 yr$89,126
2–3 yr$96,876
4–6 yr$130,410
7–10 yr$163,944
11–15 yr$193,454
15+ yr$184,437

Curve derived from BLS percentile data adjusted for New York's 1.35× cost-of-living multiplier. Highlighted row = 7–10 year experienced level.

Year-Over-Year Trend

+520.0% vs 2025

2025 median:$20,032
2026 median:$124,200
Change:+$104,168

Technology sector growth driven by demand for Playwright and Cypress.

Is This A Good Salary?

Livable middle-class

Cost-adjusted, this is a workable middle-class salary. Budgeting matters - dual-income households fare materially better, and saving for a down payment will take discipline.

COL-Adjusted Purchasing Power
$66,417
Difficult on the median - the nominal salary masks how little real purchasing power remains after rent, taxes, and basic costs.

How to Negotiate Your QA Engineer Salary in New York

Walk-away anchor: $108,000 (offers below this are below market for New York).

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 $164K–$205K for experienced roles, citing New York market data and your specific Playwright/Cypress expertise.

QA Engineer Salary FAQ — New York

What is the average QA Engineer salary in New York, NY?
The average QA Engineer salary in New York is $124,200 per year as of April 2026 — $10,350/month, $2,388/week, or about $60/hour. Salaries range from $80,730 (entry, 25th percentile) up to $204,930 (experienced, 90th percentile). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics adjusted for New York's cost-of-living multiplier (1.35×).
Is $124,200 a good QA Engineer salary in New York?
Livable middle-class. Cost-adjusted, this is a workable middle-class salary. Budgeting matters - dual-income households fare materially better, and saving for a down payment will take discipline. New York's cost-of-living index is 187 (vs 100 nationally), giving $124,200 a real purchasing power of approximately $66,417 in national terms. Difficult on the median - the nominal salary masks how little real purchasing power remains after rent, taxes, and basic costs.
Can you live on $124,200 in New York?
Median pay is below HUD's low-income threshold for a family of four in some of these metros (notably San Francisco, where $104K qualifies as 'low income'). Raising a family on the median typically requires two earners, a long commute, or family help with housing. Spending 30% on rent is impossible at the median in this market - most workers spend 40-50% or take roommates well into their 30s. HUD classifies anything over 30% as 'cost-burdened' here. For New York specifically (median home price $850,000), a $124,200 salary supports a moderate lifestyle with careful budgeting.
Is $124,200 enough for a single person in New York?
A single adult in New York typically needs ~$84,150 for a comfortable lifestyle (housing, food, transport, healthcare, modest savings). A $124,200 salary is above that threshold — a single person can live comfortably with reasonable budgeting.
Is $124,200 enough for a couple in New York?
A couple (one earner) in New York typically needs ~$134,640 for a comfortable lifestyle. A $124,200 salary as the sole household income is below the comfortable threshold — most couples at this level need both partners working or significant lifestyle adjustments. Two earners at $124,200 each ($248,400 household) provides solid middle-class comfort.
Is $124,200 enough for a family of 4 in New York?
A family of 4 (one earner) in New York typically needs ~$205,700 for a comfortable middle-class lifestyle (housing for 4, childcare/school, food, healthcare, transport, savings). A $124,200 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 New York. Childcare costs in New York typically run $28K-$52K per child per year.
What is the take-home pay for a QA Engineer in New York?
On a $124,200 QA Engineer salary in New York, NY, you take home approximately $83,654.308 per year ($6,971/month, $3,217 per biweekly paycheck) after taxes. Breakdown: federal $19,151, state $7,079.4, local $4,813.992, FICA $9,501.3. Effective tax rate: 32.6%. (Single filer, standard deduction, no other adjustments.)
How much do QA Engineers in New York earn compared to the US average?
QA Engineers in New York earn approximately 35% more than the US national median for this role ($92,000 nationally vs $124,200 in New York). However, New York's cost-of-living index of 187 means real purchasing power is approximately $66,417 when adjusted for local prices.
What does an entry-level QA Engineer earn in New York?
Entry-level QA Engineers in New York typically start at around $96,876 (0–2 years experience). With 5+ years, QA Engineers earn $163,944 or more. Top earners (90th percentile) reach $204,930+, typically at senior or lead levels with specialized skills.
Did QA Engineer salaries in New York increase in 2026?
Yes — QA Engineer salaries in New York grew approximately 520.0% year-over-year, from $20,032 in 2025 to $124,200 in 2026 (+$104,168). This reflects the broader Technology sector's compensation trend, driven by Playwright and Cypress demand.
What's the job outlook for QA Engineers in New York?
QA engineer roles projected to grow 10% through 2034. Shift-left testing and test automation skills commanding premiums. New York's top industries include Finance, Media, Tech, and the metro's current unemployment rate is 4.2% — 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 New York.
Who are the top employers hiring QA Engineers in New York?
Top employers hiring QA Engineers in or near New York 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 New York?
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 New York?
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 New York?
Bachelor's degree or equivalent (bootcamps acceptable) is the typical path. However, New York'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 New York are computed by adjusting the BLS national median ($92,000) by New York's cost-of-living multiplier of 1.35× — 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 New York

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

QA Engineer Salary in Other Cities

Seattle, WA$121KOakland, CA$129K

Land a $124K+ QA Engineer Role in New York

Knowing the salary is step one. Step two: getting past the ATS. CVCraft scans your resume, finds missing keywords, and fixes formatting issues in 60 seconds.

Scan My Resume Free

No signup required · Works for all Technology roles