Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The role of a Senior Test Specialist encompasses critical responsibilities in software testing and quality assurance. The average salary of $82,769 reflects the value placed on ensuring software reliability. Salaries vary substantially based on location; for instance, states like California and New York often offer higher pay due to the cost of living and demand for tech talent.
Experience also plays a significant role in salary determination. Professionals with more years in the field tend to command higher salaries, making ongoing education and skill enhancement essential. Industries such as finance, healthcare, and technology typically offer the most lucrative opportunities for Senior Test Specialists.
For individuals considering a career as a Senior Test Specialist, pursuing certifications in testing methodologies and tools can enhance job prospects. The role is not only rewarding in terms of salary, but it also provides the chance to work on innovative projects that shape user experiences.
Let Zippia find your next senior test specialist job
Let Zippia find your next senior test specialist job
The highest-paying states for senior test specialists are California, Washington, and New Hampshire. The lowest average senior test specialist salary states are Vermont, Kentucky, and West Virginia.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire | $92,545 | $44.49 |
| 2 | California | $98,895 | $47.55 |
| 3 | Washington | $95,743 | $46.03 |
| 4 | Delaware | $88,193 | $42.40 |
| 5 | Wyoming | $82,954 | $39.88 |
| 6 | Virginia | $85,891 | $41.29 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $87,862 | $42.24 |
| 8 | Alaska | $85,586 | $41.15 |
| 9 | Maryland | $87,483 | $42.06 |
| 10 | District of Columbia | $88,223 | $42.41 |
| 11 | Alabama | $77,810 | $37.41 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $84,246 | $40.50 |
| 13 | Nebraska | $80,058 | $38.49 |
| 14 | North Dakota | $77,551 | $37.28 |
| 15 | Oregon | $83,885 | $40.33 |
| 16 | South Dakota | $79,962 | $38.44 |
| 17 | Nevada | $78,607 | $37.79 |
| 18 | Montana | $80,058 | $38.49 |
| 19 | New Jersey | $85,222 | $40.97 |
| 20 | Michigan | $76,796 | $36.92 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania | $78,381 | $37.68 |
| 22 | Maine | $79,541 | $38.24 |
| 23 | Iowa | $75,571 | $36.33 |
| 24 | Idaho | $78,772 | $37.87 |
| 25 | Hawaii | $80,739 | $38.82 |
| 26 | Missouri | $78,615 | $37.80 |
| 27 | Arizona | $75,850 | $36.47 |
| 28 | Ohio | $75,668 | $36.38 |
| 29 | Minnesota | $77,796 | $37.40 |
| 30 | Oklahoma | $75,779 | $36.43 |
| 31 | Texas | $75,565 | $36.33 |
| 32 | Louisiana | $75,878 | $36.48 |
| 33 | New York | $78,181 | $37.59 |
| 34 | North Carolina | $74,073 | $35.61 |
| 35 | Colorado | $73,201 | $35.19 |
| 36 | Utah | $70,749 | $34.01 |
| 37 | Rhode Island | $73,084 | $35.14 |
| 38 | Indiana | $74,081 | $35.62 |
| 39 | Wisconsin | $73,877 | $35.52 |
| 40 | Florida | $72,134 | $34.68 |
| 41 | Vermont | $70,608 | $33.95 |
| 42 | Tennessee | $71,690 | $34.47 |
| 43 | Illinois | $74,451 | $35.79 |
| 44 | Georgia | $73,700 | $35.43 |
| 45 | Kansas | $70,835 | $34.06 |
| 46 | West Virginia | $69,811 | $33.56 |
| 47 | New Mexico | $68,381 | $32.88 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $69,354 | $33.34 |
| 49 | Kentucky | $70,608 | $33.95 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $71,014 | $34.14 |
| 51 | South Carolina | $69,764 | $33.54 |
The highest-paying cities for senior test specialists are San Francisco, CA, Wilmington, DE, and Baltimore, MD.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $107,431 | $51.65 |
| 2 | Wilmington, DE | $88,261 | $42.43 |
| 3 | Baltimore, MD | $87,596 | $42.11 |
| 4 | McLean, VA | $86,316 | $41.50 |
| 5 | Paramus, NJ | $85,006 | $40.87 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $84,193 | $40.48 |
| 7 | Saint Louis, MO | $78,811 | $37.89 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $78,336 | $37.66 |
| 9 | Minneapolis, MN | $77,856 | $37.43 |
| 10 | Detroit, MI | $77,019 | $37.03 |
| 11 | Baton Rouge, LA | $75,926 | $36.50 |
| 12 | Oklahoma City, OK | $75,735 | $36.41 |
| 13 | Irving, TX | $75,293 | $36.20 |
| 14 | West Des Moines, IA | $75,234 | $36.17 |
| 15 | Raleigh, NC | $74,908 | $36.01 |
| 16 | Chicago, IL | $74,678 | $35.90 |
| 17 | Alpharetta, GA | $73,947 | $35.55 |
| 18 | Jacksonville, FL | $73,223 | $35.20 |
| 19 | Denver, CO | $73,223 | $35.20 |
| 20 | Providence, RI | $73,076 | $35.13 |
A senior test specialist's salary ranges from $65,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $104,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $104,000 | $8,667 | $50 |
| 75th Percentile | $93,000 | $7,750 | $45 |
| Average | $82,769 | $6,897 | $40 |
| 25th Percentile | $73,000 | $6,083 | $35 |
| 10th Percentile | $65,000 | $5,417 | $31 |
The highest paying types of senior test specialists are senior quality assurance analyst/lead, system test engineer, and quality assurance team leader.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quality Assurance Engineer | $82,215 | $6,851 | $39.53 | 243,536 |
| Quality Assurance Lead | $94,758 | $7,897 | $45.56 | 82,242 |
| Quality Assurance Analyst | $73,532 | $6,128 | $35.35 | 108,078 |
| Quality Assurance Team Leader | $97,476 | $8,123 | $46.86 | 131,886 |
| Quality Assurance Tester | $74,140 | $6,178 | $35.64 | 82,396 |
| Test Engineer | $79,832 | $6,653 | $38.38 | 228,974 |
Top companies hiring senior test specialists now:
Senior test specialist salaries at Walmart and InComm Payments are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average senior test specialist salary at companies like AT&T; and Medical Billing are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Walmart | $117,270 | $56.38 |
| 2 | InComm Payments | $112,799 | $54.23 |
| 3 | AT&T | $108,198 | $52.02 |
| 4 | Medical Billing | $107,108 | $51.49 |
| 5 | Strategic Staffing Solutions | $100,062 | $48.11 |
| 6 | Alight Solutions | $99,845 | $48.00 |
| 7 | TISTA Science & Technology | $99,330 | $47.75 |
| 8 | Coalfire Systems Inc. | $98,367 | $47.29 |
| 9 | Nokia | $97,035 | $46.65 |
| 10 | Kforce | $95,821 | $46.07 |
| 11 | NTT Data International L.L.C. | $94,893 | $45.62 |
| 12 | Wells Fargo | $94,818 | $45.59 |
| 13 | Standav Corp. | $94,728 | $45.54 |
| 14 | ManTech | $94,690 | $45.52 |
| 15 | De Lage Landen Financial Services Inc | $93,316 | $44.86 |
| 16 | QSSI | $93,081 | $44.75 |
| 17 | DXC Technology | $92,500 | $44.47 |
| 18 | cloudteam.com | $90,661 | $43.59 |
| 19 | Alcatel Networks Inc | $90,661 | $43.59 |
| 20 | Jacobs Enterprises | $90,660 | $43.59 |
The average senior test specialist salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Insurance | $97,746 | $46.99 |
| 2 | Automotive | $95,526 | $45.93 |
| 3 | Finance | $90,223 | $43.38 |
| 4 | Technology | $81,882 | $39.37 |
| 5 | Professional | $64,280 | $30.90 |
The average senior test specialist salary has risen by $13,549 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average senior test specialist earned $69,220 annually, but today, they earn $82,769 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for senior test specialists over the last decade.
Compare senior test specialist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare senior test specialist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $82,800 | $39.79 | +3.3% |
| 2025 | $80,000 | $38.48 | +2.3% |
| 2024 | $78,200 | $37.61 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | $76,700 | $36.88 | +2.3% |
| 2022 | $75,000 | $36.04 | +1.5% |
Search for senior test specialist jobs