25 of the Highest Paying Software Quality Manager Jobs in 2026

The best Software Quality Manager jobs can pay up to $167,000 per year.

High Paying Software Quality Manager Jobs

• Software Test Manager

  Salary range: $123,500 - $167,000

  The majority of Software Test Manager salaries across the United States currently range between $123,500 (25th percentile) and $167,000 (75th percentile) annually. This moderate range of salaries suggests pay in this role will be consistent, regardless skill level, location and years of experience, though some advancement is possible. Based on recent job postings on ZipRecruiter, the Software Test Manager job market in the United States is active, with some companies hiring.

• Automation Engineering Manager

  Salary range: $117,500 - $160,000

  The majority of Automation Engineering Manager salaries across the United States currently range between $117,500 (25th percentile) and $160,000 (75th percentile) annually. This moderate range of salaries suggests pay in this role will be consistent, regardless skill level, location and years of experience, though some advancement is possible. Based on recent job postings on ZipRecruiter, the Automation Engineering Manager job market in the United States is somewhat active, with a few companies hiring.

• Continuous Improvement Director

  Salary range: $122,500 - $157,500

  Your job duties as a continuous improvement director revolve around working on process improvement, efficient business activity, and the realization of goals within a business or organization. Your responsibilities include assessing current performance results and coming up with strategies for improvement. You may focus on improving interdepartmental relations, communication between team members, or project management. Employers also expect their continuous improvement director to facilitate training and professional skills development and create a comprehensive strategy for improvement.

• QA Manager

  Salary range: $83,000 - $144,500

  As a QA manager, you oversee the quality assurance (QA) team and make sure that no defective products make it to customers. Your job duties include hiring and training QA inspectors, managing quality control procedures and the operations of the QA department, and ensuring that products meet specifications and are safe for consumer use. As a QA manager, your work is primarily in production and manufacturing, where you ensure the quality of goods like cars, clothes, electronics, and food items.

• Change and Release Manager

  Salary range: $101,000 - $141,000

  The majority of Change and Release Manager salaries across the United States currently range between $101,000 (25th percentile) and $141,000 (75th percentile) annually. This moderate range of salaries suggests pay in this role will be consistent, regardless skill level, location and years of experience, though some advancement is possible. Based on recent job posting activity on ZipRecruiter, the Change and Release Manager job market in the United States is not very active as few companies are currently hiring for this role. You can try exploring related titles to find jobs with more active opportunities.

• Automation Manager

  Salary range: $91,500 - $139,000

  The majority of Automation Manager salaries across the United States currently range between $91,500 (25th percentile) and $139,000 (75th percentile) annually. This moderate range of salaries suggests pay in this role will be consistent, regardless skill level, location and years of experience, though some advancement is possible. Based on recent job postings on ZipRecruiter, the Automation Manager job market in the United States is somewhat active, with a few companies hiring.

• Configurator

  Salary range: $60,000 - $139,000

  The majority of Configurator salaries across the United States currently range between $60,000 (25th percentile) and $139,000 (75th percentile) annually. This large range of salary potential suggests there may be many opportunities for advancement and increased pay depending on skill level, location and years of experience. Based on recent job posting activity on ZipRecruiter, the Configurator job market in the United States is not very active as few companies are currently hiring for this role. You can try exploring related titles to find jobs with more active opportunities.

• Software Configuration Manager

  Salary range: $100,000 - $138,500

  The job duties of a software configuration manager involve overseeing the build and release of software. Your responsibilities in this career include version control to track revisions made to the source code of programs, and you may use a GIT system to track such changes. You test and refine the software coding so that it remains appropriately configured throughout the development process. As a manager, you may hire employees or contract with third parties to perform the tasks required by your employer or client.

• Lead Software Test Engineer

  Salary range: $105,000 - $137,000

  The majority of Lead Software Test Engineer salaries across the United States currently range between $105,000 (25th percentile) and $137,000 (75th percentile) annually. This moderate range of salaries suggests pay in this role will be consistent, regardless skill level, location and years of experience, though some advancement is possible. Based on recent job posting activity on ZipRecruiter, the Lead Software Test Engineer job market in the United States is not very active as few companies are currently hiring for this role. You can try exploring related titles to find jobs with more active opportunities.

• Release Manager

  Salary range: $84,000 - $136,500

  A release manager typically works with software products in the information technology field and oversees all aspects of a product’s release. As a release manager, you play a pivotal role in guiding product management and project teams to move forward in the release management lifecycle. Your job duties include planning the release schedule, ensuring all requirements are met, and identifying issues as they arise. A product release may involve application updates, operating system patches, or security improvements.

• Quality Assurance Project Manager

  Salary range: $80,500 - $136,500

  The majority of Quality Assurance Project Manager salaries across the United States currently range between $80,500 (25th percentile) and $136,500 (75th percentile) annually. This large range of salary potential suggests there may be many opportunities for advancement and increased pay depending on skill level, location and years of experience. Based on recent job posting activity on ZipRecruiter, the Quality Assurance Project Manager job market in the United States is not very active as few companies are currently hiring for this role. You can try exploring related titles to find jobs with more active opportunities.

• Test Manager

  Salary range: $94,000 - $130,000

  A test manager works in a software development and quality assurance setting, managing testing projects and resources to ensure that software works correctly before being released to the public. Your chief responsibilities and duties are to oversee a team of software quality assurance testers throughout the development life cycle, design and implement testing strategies, create reports and analyses of your tests, and present your findings to software developers and management. You are also responsible for hiring new testers, building your team, and helping to mentor and monitor junior testers.

• Test Lead

  Salary range: $95,000 - $129,500

  A test lead is an IT professional who oversees the process of testing software before moving it to production. As a test lead, your duties are to monitor other testers to ensure proper execution. Beyond acting as a manager, you also act as a second level of control to think critically about the tests. You have more experience and expertise than your supervisees, so you should be better able to determine what functionality of the software may not be covered by the tests. You likely need a bachelor's degree in this career, although for some jobs an associate degree is enough. However, remember that this is not an entry-level job. Regardless of your education, you should gain experience as a software tester and move up in the career field.

• Lead QA Engineer

  Salary range: $129,000 - $129,000

  The majority of Lead QA Engineer salaries across the United States currently range between $129,000 (25th percentile) and $129,000 (75th percentile) annually. Most people working in this role make similar salaries regardless of skill level, location and years of experience. Based on recent job posting activity on ZipRecruiter, the Lead QA Engineer job market in the United States is not very active as few companies are currently hiring for this role. You can try exploring related titles to find jobs with more active opportunities.

• QA Lead

  Salary range: $62,000 - $129,000

  The majority of QA Lead salaries across the United States currently range between $62,000 (25th percentile) and $129,000 (75th percentile) annually. This large range of salary potential suggests there may be many opportunities for advancement and increased pay depending on skill level, location and years of experience. Based on recent job posting activity on ZipRecruiter, the QA Lead job market in the United States is not very active as few companies are currently hiring for this role. You can try exploring related titles to find jobs with more active opportunities.

• Test Engineering Manager

  Salary range: $100,000 - $128,500

  The majority of Test Engineering Manager salaries across the United States currently range between $100,000 (25th percentile) and $128,500 (75th percentile) annually. This moderate range of salaries suggests pay in this role will be consistent, regardless skill level, location and years of experience, though some advancement is possible. Based on recent job postings on ZipRecruiter, the Test Engineering Manager job market in the United States is active, with some companies hiring.

• Continuous Improvement Manager

  Salary range: $94,500 - $127,000

  A continuous improvement manager seeks solutions for process improvement to optimize the performance of systems. Some positions are finite, following a Learn-Do-Teach model whereby the business implements the master plan after training the staff. In this type of positions, you often work within a defined schedule and budget, using a host of CI tools. Other positions are permanent, with improvements focused on coordination of programs for ongoing employee improvement. Both of these scenarios focus on long-term benefits. The only difference is your role in said benefits. As a continuous improvement manager, you also provide documentation and implement a tracking system to ensure it continues to operate efficiently.

• Continuous Improvement Lead

  Salary range: $85,000 - $124,000

  The majority of Continuous Improvement Lead salaries across the United States currently range between $85,000 (25th percentile) and $124,000 (75th percentile) annually. This moderate range of salaries suggests pay in this role will be consistent, regardless skill level, location and years of experience, though some advancement is possible. Based on recent job posting activity on ZipRecruiter, the Continuous Improvement Lead job market in the United States is not very active as few companies are currently hiring for this role. You can try exploring related titles to find jobs with more active opportunities.

• Qa Test Lead

  Salary range: $72,500 - $123,500

  The majority of Qa Test Lead salaries across the United States currently range between $72,500 (25th percentile) and $123,500 (75th percentile) annually. This large range of salary potential suggests there may be many opportunities for advancement and increased pay depending on skill level, location and years of experience. Based on recent job posting activity on ZipRecruiter, the Qa Test Lead job market in the United States is not very active as few companies are currently hiring for this role. You can try exploring related titles to find jobs with more active opportunities.

• Quality Systems Manager

  Salary range: $75,500 - $122,500

  As a quality systems manager, your primary responsibilities are monitoring the production processes and ensuring factory machinery/goods are within company and industry requirements. Your duties include weighing, sampling, or testing products for quality and functionality. You may also report the results of quality control tests. You monitor the equipment and people involved, and help with the development and implementation of improved management systems. You are also in charge of creating a standard operating procedure for the specific plant where you work. You check that everything is running at full efficiency and the quality of merchandise is standardized.

• Configuration Manager

  Salary range: $76,000 - $112,000

  A configuration manager oversees the lifecycle of software or hardware production, such as a new app or server development. Job duties include getting authorization for the project, documenting the process from the outline to the quality assurance and beta testing, overseeing the coding and implementation, and collecting data relevant to the project. Qualifications for this career include a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field, IT experience, the ability to handle multiple projects at once, and strong organizational and leadership skills.

• Configuration Analyst

  Salary range: $63,500 - $110,000

  A configuration analyst helps with the management of information systems and software and provides customer support with ticketing systems. As a configuration analyst, your job duties include configuring business processes and developing systems for documentation, payroll, and reimbursement. You continually monitor and analyze the efficiency of the system and identify where key issues impact transaction processes. Qualifications for this career include a bachelor’s degree in IT or a related field, working knowledge of or experience in the specific industry in which you want to work, and excellent computer literacy. Skills in time management and communication are vital for this role.

• Release Coordinator

  Salary range: $45,500 - $63,500

  A release coordinator works to plan the release of new software or a software/system update. Your responsibilities and duties in this job revolve around coordinating with different departments and development teams to ensure they complete work, test the software, and prepare all necessary components for a simultaneous release across all operating systems and platforms. You track development activities and gauge progress through the different phases of development. You may work to plan release dates and negotiate between development teams and software or application vendors to find a realistic release date.

• Configuration Technician

  Salary range: $35,000 - $38,000

  A configuration technician installs, tests, and troubleshoots software and operating systems. They evaluate networks and analyze security measures to ensure they function correctly. As a configuration technician, you are responsible for daily maintenance to prevent any significant interruptions, and may also research new systems and make recommendations to clients on network solutions that meet their needs. To become a configuration technician, you need a high school diploma or equivalent and related industry experience.

• Test Administrator

  Salary range: $33,000 - $33,500

  A test administrator oversees students while they take a test, such as the SAT, the ACT, or other standardized tests. Job duties include verifying student identification, making sure everyone is registered correctly, and explaining test procedures. They also monitor the students to ensure they are not cheating while taking the test. Test administrators maintain a quiet testing atmosphere so that no disruptions affect a student’s concentration.