Mid-level QA Engineer salary in Raleigh, NC
Based on 282 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level II 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 | $93,150 |
| 50th (median) | $94,203 |
| 75th | $105,000 |
| 90th | $116,900 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $72,738 | $72,738 | $75,982 | 118 |
| FY2021 | $75,982 | $75,982 | $80,500 | 115 |
| FY2022 | $78,000 | $77,584 | $94,806 | 150 |
| FY2023 | $90,000 | $89,731 | $92,500 | 177 |
| FY2024 | $92,000 | $91,978 | $98,750 | 189 |
| FY2025 | $94,203 | $94,203 | $100,000 | 158 |
| FY2026 | $95,340 | $92,310 | $110,858 | 124 |
Cost of living
Raleigh's median mid-level QA Engineer salary of $94,203 is worth about $96,000 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 $94,203, 15% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cognizant | $94,203 | 36 |
| DB Global Technology | $105,665 | 32 |
| HCLTech | $94,203 | 13 |
| Infosys | too few | 9 |
| Randstad | too few | 8 |
| LTIMindtree | too few | 7 |
| Infinite Computer Solutions | too few | 6 |
| Tata Consultancy Services | too few | 6 |
| L&T Technology Services | too few | 5 |
| System Soft Technologies | too few | 4 |
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.