Entry-level QA Engineer salary in Charlotte, NC
Based on 22 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Fort Mill, Concord, Huntersville, Mooresville, Indian Land.
Also listed as: Software Tester, Test Automation Engineer
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $64,100 |
| 25th | $67,330 |
| 50th (median) | $71,552 |
| 75th | $81,750 |
| 90th | $91,092 |
Cost of living
Charlotte's median entry-level QA Engineer salary of $71,552 is worth about $73,500 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Charlotte = 97.3).
Compared with all workers here
All Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers in the Charlotte, NC area earned a median of $81,990 in May 2025 (3,900 employed). The H-1B median here is $71,552, 13% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Systems Research Institute | too few | 8 |
| Deloitte | too few | 2 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $71,552 | 22 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $85,030 | 416 |
| Senior · Level III | $102,669 | 263 |
| Expert · Level IV | $124,924 | 148 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $63,690 | $71,552 | 22 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $81,037 | $85,030 | 416 |
| Senior · Level III | $102,669 | $102,669 | 263 |
| Expert · Level IV | $120,307 | $124,924 | 148 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.