Entry-level QA Engineer salary in Columbus, OH
Based on 22 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Columbus, OH metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Dublin, Westerville, Lewis Center, Delaware, Raymond.
Also listed as: Software Tester, Test Automation Engineer
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $65,268 |
| 25th | $67,683 |
| 50th (median) | $70,000 |
| 75th | $74,450 |
| 90th | $79,500 |
Cost of living
Columbus's median entry-level QA Engineer salary of $70,000 is worth about $73,300 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Columbus = 95.5).
Compared with all workers here
All Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers in the Columbus, OH area earned a median of $103,110 in May 2025 (780 employed). The H-1B median here is $70,000, 32% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Softworld Technologies | too few | 4 |
| Ohio Farmers Insurance Company | 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 | $70,000 | 22 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $83,242 | 200 |
| Senior · Level III | $99,500 | 110 |
| Expert · Level IV | $120,848 | 74 |
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 | $67,683 | $70,000 | 22 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $83,242 | $83,242 | 200 |
| Senior · Level III | $93,184 | $99,500 | 110 |
| Expert · Level IV | $107,765 | $120,848 | 74 |
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.