QA Engineer salary in Raleigh, NC
Based on 632 certified H-1B filings in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Cary, Morrisville, Apex, Fuquay Varina, Holly Springs.
Also listed as: Software Tester, Test Automation Engineer
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $92,310 |
| 25th | $94,203 |
| 50th (median) | $112,216 |
| 75th | $126,369 |
| 90th | $136,975 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $72,738 | $72,738 | $80,840 | 142 |
| FY2021 | $80,000 | $75,982 | $98,500 | 173 |
| FY2022 | $94,806 | $78,000 | $111,550 | 245 |
| FY2023 | $92,322 | $89,731 | $110,935 | 302 |
| FY2024 | $99,750 | $91,978 | $117,000 | 339 |
| FY2025 | $112,216 | $94,203 | $121,314 | 366 |
| FY2026 | $112,216 | $93,763 | $132,142 | 266 |
Cost of living
Raleigh's median QA Engineer salary of $112,216 is worth about $114,300 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Raleigh = 98.2).
Compared with all workers here
All Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers in the Raleigh, NC area earned a median of $110,800 in May 2025 (1,760 employed). The H-1B median here is $112,216, 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.
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| DB Global Technology | $125,000 | 119 |
| Cognizant | $112,216 | 86 |
| HCLTech | $94,203 | 15 |
| Relx | $121,540 | 12 |
| Tata Consultancy Services | $107,211 | 12 |
| UBS | $130,000 | 11 |
| L&T Technology Services | $91,654 | 10 |
| MetLife Group | $119,987 | 10 |
| Deloitte | too few | 9 |
| Infosys | too few | 9 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $85,000 | 54 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $94,203 | 282 |
| Senior · Level III | $118,000 | 209 |
| Expert · Level IV | $135,000 | 69 |
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 | $74,006 | $85,000 | 54 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $92,310 | $94,203 | 282 |
| Senior · Level III | $114,421 | $118,000 | 209 |
| Expert · Level IV | $132,142 | $135,000 | 69 |
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.