Senior QA Engineer salary in Columbia, SC
Based on 10 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level III in the Columbia, SC metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Lexington, Blythewood.
Also listed as: Software Tester, Test Automation Engineer
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $70,304 |
| 25th | $72,178 |
| 50th (median) | $87,482 |
| 75th | $109,500 |
| 90th | $113,480 |
Cost of living
Columbia's median senior QA Engineer salary of $87,482 is worth about $93,400 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Columbia = 93.7).
Compared with all workers here
All Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers in the Columbia, SC area earned a median of $86,320 in May 2025 (250 employed). The H-1B median here is $87,482, 1% higher.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Capgemini America | too few | 3 |
| Cognizant | too few | 2 |
| Sanctityinternational | 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 | – | 0 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $62,481 | 18 |
| Senior · Level III | $87,482 | 10 |
| Expert · Level IV | too few | 3 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid-level · Level II | $62,462 | $62,481 | 18 |
| Senior · Level III | $70,304 | $87,482 | 10 |
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.