Bottom quarter
$119K
Software QA Engineering Salary in Houston
What you should make. What you should ask for. Calculated from 1M+ data points, refreshed monthly.
Median
$149K
Top quarter
$187K
Top 10%
$227K
Adjusted for Houston at 1.03× the national baseline. See the math →
What this number means.
Software QA Engineering in Houston pulls a median of $149,350 at mid-career, with a top-quartile band reaching $187,460 and the top 10% at $226,600. The Houston adjustment moves the band 3% above the national baseline. If you're up for review, the right ask sits at the top quarter of the band: $187,460.
How to negotiate this
- Anchor$187,460 — the top-quartile number. This is the number you say first.
- Target$168,405 — where a fair counter lands. Above the median, below the anchor.
- Floor$149,350 — below this, you're underpaid. Walking away gets cheaper than staying.
Carry the math. Not the maybe.
AMMO is the corner man for the conversation that decides your year. Real pay data, an offer grader, and counter language drafted from your numbers. Get on the list before iOS launch.
Get on the AMMO list →Keep digging.
Software QA Engineering elsewhere
Adjacent metros
Read how these numbers are computed →
Numbers are estimates. Your offer depends on the company, the level, the stock piece, and the conversation you're about to have. AMMO is a tool. You are the negotiator.