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Qualcomm salary estimate

$111,934yearly

$53.81 hourly rate

Entry-level salary
$81,000 yearly salary
Updated December 15, 2025

Understanding Qualcomm Salaries

Qualcomm offers competitive salaries, with an average of $111,934 annually. The highest paying positions within the company include senior software engineers, who earn approximately $117,551, and system software developers, averaging $106,705. This variation in pay highlights the importance of role selection, as entry-level positions like engineering interns earn about $44,613 per year. The compensation is particularly high in California, where the cost of living drives salary expectations.

Comparative Salaries

When compared to competitors, Qualcomm's salaries are competitive. For instance, Broadcom employees earn an average of $121,218, while Ikanos and SiRF Technology employees earn $117,738 and $116,808, respectively. This comparison aids prospective employees in evaluating their options.

Employee Benefits

Employees at Qualcomm appreciate benefits such as flexible work hours and unlimited PTO. However, some feedback indicates challenges in communication and opportunities for advancement. Overall, understanding Qualcomm's salary structure and benefits can assist job seekers in making informed decisions about their careers.

Highest paying jobs at Qualcomm

The highest paying jobs at Qualcomm are senior software engineer, system software developer, hardware engineer, and senior programmer analyst. Senior software engineer jobs at Qualcomm earn an average yearly salary of $117,551, Qualcomm system software developer jobs average $106,705, and Qualcomm hardware engineer jobs average $104,299.

The lowest paying Qualcomm roles include engineering internship and test technician. Qualcomm engineering internship average salary is $44,613 per year. So while the average Qualcomm salary is $111,934 there is a big variation in pay depending on the role.

Highest paying jobs at Qualcomm

RankJob titleAverage Qualcomm salaryHourly rate
1Senior Software Engineer$117,551$56.51
2System Software Developer$106,705$51.30
3Hardware Engineer$104,299$50.14
4Senior Programmer Analyst$102,603$49.33
5Systems Analyst$87,504$42.07
6Test Technician$48,075$23.11
7Engineering Internship$44,613$21.45

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Average Qualcomm salary by state

Qualcomm pays the highest salaries in California due to higher costs of living and competition in the state.

RankStateAverage Qualcomm salaryHourly rate
1California$128,171$61.62
2Massachusetts$105,432$50.69
3Arizona$105,353$50.65
4New York$104,814$50.39
5Texas$102,657$49.35
6New Jersey$101,276$48.69
7Virginia$100,245$48.19
8Colorado$96,674$46.48
9Pennsylvania$96,638$46.46
10North Carolina$93,780$45.09
11Florida$92,633$44.54
12Michigan$91,992$44.23

How much does Qualcomm pay by location?

The average Qualcomm salary varies by location. Qualcomm salaries are the highest in San Diego, CA, at $122,016 per year. Qualcomm pays the second highest average salary in Boxborough, MA, at $105,247 per year. It's important to factor in the cost of living when negotiating a salary or choosing a place to work.

Highest paying Qualcomm locations

RankLocationAverage Qualcomm salaryHourly rate
1San Diego, CA$122,016$58.66
2Boxborough, MA$105,247$50.60
3Austin, TX$103,290$49.66
4Bridgewater, NJ$101,211$48.66
5Boulder, CO$96,741$46.51
6Raleigh, NC$94,142$45.26

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Best paying Qualcomm engineering salaries

RankPositionAverage Qualcomm salaryHourly rate
1Senior Software Engineer$117,551$56.51
2System Software Developer$106,705$51.30
3Hardware Engineer$104,299$50.14
4Senior Programmer Analyst$102,603$49.33
5Test Technician$48,075$23.11
6Engineering Internship$44,613$21.45

Best paying Qualcomm IT salaries

RankPositionAverage Qualcomm salaryHourly rate
1Senior Information Technology Engineer$111,624$53.67
2Staff Programmer$110,516$53.13
3Circuit Design Engineer$110,218$52.99
4Project Leader$106,267$51.09
5Information Technology Project Manager$104,997$50.48
6Senior Programmer Analyst$102,603$49.33
7Systems Administrator$92,774$44.60
8Systems Analyst$87,504$42.07
9Technical Support Trainer$58,837$28.29
10Technical Support Specialist$47,367$22.77

Qualcomm competitors’ average salaries

Average salaries at Qualcomm competitors, like Broadcom, Ikanos, and SiRF Technology, vary. Broadcom employees earn the highest salaries, with an average yearly salary of $121,218. The average salary at Ikanos is $117,738 per year, and the average salary at SiRF Technology is $116,808 per year.

Highest paying Qualcomm competitors

RankCompany nameZippia scoreAverage salary
1Broadcom4.8$121,218
2Ikanos4.5$117,738
3SiRF Technology4.0$116,808
4Cavium4.8$110,770
5CSR Technology Holdings Inc.4.5$100,376
6Ericsson4.6$90,626
7Motorola Solutions4.5$82,657

Recently added Qualcomm salaries

JobLocationDate addedSalary
Senior Embedded Software Development EngineerBoulder, CO06/28/2025$100,200
Product Development and Test Engineer, StaffSan Diego, CA06/28/2025$134,800
Program Manager, IOT ChipsetSan Diego, CA06/28/2025$126,400
Senior Machine Learning Software EngineerSan Diego, CA06/28/2025$177,154
Senior Camera EngineerAustin, TX06/28/2025$122,500

What employees say about salary at Qualcomm

Employee reviews
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4.0
A zippia user wrote a review on Sep 2023
Pros of working at Qualcomm

On job training. Some autonomy. (Formerly), stock share gift and purchase option. Free soda.

Cons of working at Qualcomm

Required 1 year temporary employee contract, with zero guarantee of a permanent position offer.No job security. Zero defect culture. Little to no upward career opportunities.

Qualcomm benefits

Prestige of claiming to work at Q.

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5.0
A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2022
Pros of working at Qualcomm

Work culture, Quality of work, Benefits

Cons of working at Qualcomm

No work life balance

Qualcomm benefits

Flexible work hours

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4.0
A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2021
Pros of working at Qualcomm

Good benefits while working

Cons of working at Qualcomm

Communication between managers and employees is not so good

Qualcomm benefits

Vacations PTO is unlimited

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5.0
A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2021
Pros of working at Qualcomm

Qualcomm considered employees as the greatest asset. Many opportunities in advanced technology as well as in project/program management, administration, IT, and business development.

Cons of working at Qualcomm

LOTS of VP positions made for lots of tribes. The top-heavy management structure made it harder to move up. The company grew through acquisitions and then laid off a lot of long-term employees.

Qualcomm benefits

The benefits package was generous and the people that work there were amazing. Private offices for most employees was the norm until about 2015.

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3.0
A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2020
Pros of working at Qualcomm

Management

Cons of working at Qualcomm

Salary was not commensurate to the work that was expected and/or required.

Qualcomm benefits

6 paid Holidays per year

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3.0
A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2020
Pros of working at Qualcomm

Benefits and flexibility on work hours. Remote access and ability to work from home when needed.

Cons of working at Qualcomm

My department was made up of people who got their respective roles not because of skill, qualification or ability to do well, but because they were good friends with the director. Managers also need to start leading by example and breaking up the "clique" environment and re-evaluating the complacent employees who are reluctant to upgrades and change. This is a technology company that grows on evolving the tech industry. The employees should reflect the same vision of the company.

Qualcomm benefits

I couldn't ask for a better benefit package with health, retirement, stocks, and many more services offered. It is one of the best!

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4.0
A zippia user wrote a review on Sep 2020
Pros of working at Qualcomm

Good benefit

Cons of working at Qualcomm

work-life balance is not very good here, sometimes you have to work over 12 hours a day + 7 days a week

Qualcomm benefits

401K, health insurance

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Frequently asked questions about Qualcomm salaries

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Zippia gives an in-depth look into the details of Qualcomm, including salaries, political affiliations, employee data, and more, in order to inform job seekers about Qualcomm. The employee data is based on information from people who have self-reported their past or current employments at Qualcomm. The data on this page is also based on data sources collected from public and open data sources on the Internet and other locations, as well as proprietary data we licensed from other companies. Sources of data may include, but are not limited to, the BLS, company filings, estimates based on those filings, H1B filings, and other public and private datasets. While we have made attempts to ensure that the information displayed are correct, Zippia is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of this information. None of the information on this page has been provided or approved by Qualcomm. The data presented on this page does not represent the view of Qualcomm and its employees or that of Zippia.