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2026 Salary Data — Omaha, NE
Updated April 28, 2026

QA Engineer Salary in Omaha: $89K Median

QA Engineers in Omaha, NE earn between $58K and $147K per year.

That's -3% below the US national median of $92,000 for this role.

Quick Answer

As of April 2026, the median QA Engineer salary in Omaha, NE is $89,240 per year — -3% below the US national median of $92,000. Salaries range from $58,006 (entry, 25th percentile) to $147,246 (90th percentile). QA Engineers in Omaha earned approximately $14,394 in 2025, representing 520.0% year-over-year growth.

Median
$89,240
+520.0% YoY · $7,437/mo
Entry
$69,607
0–2 years
Experienced
$117,797
5+ years
Top 10%
$147,246
Senior/lead
QA Engineer Salary — Omaha vs Nearby
Omaha
$89K
San Antonio
$86K
+4% vs Omaha
Kansas City
$87K
+2% vs Omaha
Indianapolis
$86K
+4% vs Omaha

Free ATS scan · Omaha employers · Results in 60 seconds

About QA Engineers in Omaha

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

Omaha Job Market

Insurance and finance capital with surprisingly diverse economy.

Population
487K
Cost of Living
91
vs 100 US avg
Unemployment
3%
Median Home
$265K

Top Industries in Omaha

Finance (Berkshire Hathaway)InsuranceHealthcareTelecommunications

Top Employers Hiring QA Engineers

Major employers active in Omaha 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 — Omaha

PeriodEntry (25th)Median (50th)Top (90th)
Annual$58,006$89,240$147,246
Monthly$4,834$7,437$12,271
Weekly$1,116$1,716$2,832
Hourly$28$43$71

Based on 2080 working hours/year. Local figures derived from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics national median ($92,000) adjusted for Omaha's cost-of-living multiplier (0.97×, sourced from BEA Regional Price Parities).

QA Engineer Take-Home Pay in Omaha

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

Net Annual Take-Home
$67,062.54
Per month$5,589
Biweekly paycheck$2,579
Effective tax rate24.9%

Tax Breakdown on $89,240

Gross salary$89,240
Federal income tax−$11,334.8
Nebraska state tax−$4,015.8
FICA (Social Security + Medicare)−$6,826.86
Take-home (net)$67,062.54

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 — Omaha

Career-stage progression for QA Engineers in Omaha.

ExperienceAnnual Salary
0–1 yr$64,038
2–3 yr$69,607
4–6 yr$93,702
7–10 yr$117,797
11–15 yr$139,000
15+ yr$132,522

Curve derived from BLS percentile data adjusted for Omaha's 0.97× cost-of-living multiplier. Highlighted row = 7–10 year experienced level.

Year-Over-Year Trend

+520.0% vs 2025

2025 median:$14,394
2026 median:$89,240
Change:+$74,846

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
$98,066
Comfortable lifestyle with strong savings potential - the median paycheck stretches well above the national average here.

How to Negotiate Your QA Engineer Salary in Omaha

Walk-away anchor: $77,600 (offers below this are below market for Omaha).

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 $118K–$147K for experienced roles, citing Omaha market data and your specific Playwright/Cypress expertise.

QA Engineer Salary FAQ — Omaha

What is the average QA Engineer salary in Omaha, NE?
The average QA Engineer salary in Omaha is $89,240 per year as of April 2026 — $7,437/month, $1,716/week, or about $43/hour. Salaries range from $58,006 (entry, 25th percentile) up to $147,246 (experienced, 90th percentile). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics adjusted for Omaha's cost-of-living multiplier (0.97×).
Is $89,240 a good QA Engineer salary in Omaha?
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. Omaha's cost-of-living index is 91 (vs 100 nationally), giving $89,240 a real purchasing power of approximately $98,066 in national terms. Comfortable lifestyle with strong savings potential - the median paycheck stretches well above the national average here.
Can you live on $89,240 in Omaha?
Median local pay typically supports a single-earner family of four with a starter home, modest college savings, and standard healthcare costs covered. Stay under 25% of pre-tax income on rent. In this market, that is realistic on most professional salaries and leaves room for retirement contributions. For Omaha specifically (median home price $265,000), a $89,240 salary supports a comfortable lifestyle.
Is $89,240 enough for a single person in Omaha?
A single adult in Omaha typically needs ~$40,950 for a comfortable lifestyle (housing, food, transport, healthcare, modest savings). A $89,240 salary is well above that threshold — a single person can live comfortably with significant savings room.
Is $89,240 enough for a couple in Omaha?
A couple (one earner) in Omaha typically needs ~$65,520 for a comfortable lifestyle. A $89,240 salary as the sole household income is sufficient — enabling moderate housing, savings, and discretionary spending. Two earners at $89,240 each ($178,480 household) provides solid middle-class comfort.
Is $89,240 enough for a family of 4 in Omaha?
A family of 4 (one earner) in Omaha typically needs ~$100,100 for a comfortable middle-class lifestyle (housing for 4, childcare/school, food, healthcare, transport, savings). A $89,240 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 Omaha. Childcare costs in Omaha typically run $14K-$25K per child per year.
What is the take-home pay for a QA Engineer in Omaha?
On a $89,240 QA Engineer salary in Omaha, NE, you take home approximately $67,062.54 per year ($5,589/month, $2,579 per biweekly paycheck) after taxes. Breakdown: federal $11,334.8, state $4,015.8, FICA $6,826.86. Effective tax rate: 24.9%. (Single filer, standard deduction, no other adjustments.)
How much do QA Engineers in Omaha earn compared to the US average?
QA Engineers in Omaha earn approximately 3% less than the US national median for this role ($92,000 nationally vs $89,240 in Omaha). However, Omaha's cost-of-living index of 91 means real purchasing power is approximately $98,066 when adjusted for local prices.
What does an entry-level QA Engineer earn in Omaha?
Entry-level QA Engineers in Omaha typically start at around $69,607 (0–2 years experience). With 5+ years, QA Engineers earn $117,797 or more. Top earners (90th percentile) reach $147,246+, typically at senior or lead levels with specialized skills.
Did QA Engineer salaries in Omaha increase in 2026?
Yes — QA Engineer salaries in Omaha grew approximately 520.0% year-over-year, from $14,394 in 2025 to $89,240 in 2026 (+$74,846). This reflects the broader Technology sector's compensation trend, driven by Playwright and Cypress demand.
What's the job outlook for QA Engineers in Omaha?
QA engineer roles projected to grow 10% through 2034. Shift-left testing and test automation skills commanding premiums. Omaha's top industries include Finance (Berkshire Hathaway), Insurance, Healthcare, and the metro's current unemployment rate is 3% — 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 Omaha.
Who are the top employers hiring QA Engineers in Omaha?
Top employers hiring QA Engineers in or near Omaha 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 Omaha?
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 Omaha?
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 Omaha?
Bachelor's degree or equivalent (bootcamps acceptable) is the typical path. However, Omaha'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 Omaha are computed by adjusting the BLS national median ($92,000) by Omaha's cost-of-living multiplier of 0.97× — 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 Omaha

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

QA Engineer Salary in Other Cities

Phoenix, AZ$92KSan Antonio, TX$86KJacksonville, FL$85KColumbus, OH$89KIndianapolis, IN$86KDetroit, MI$86KNashville, TN$92KLas Vegas, NV$87K

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