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Defect Manager Salary in the United States

How much does a Defect Manager make in the United States? As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Defect Manager in the United States is $82,176 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $40.

However, a Defect Manager's salary can vary significantly. Here's a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $93,418
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $72,668 to $88,060
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $64,011
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Check out Defect Manager Job Openings in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Defect Manager Salaries

A Defect Manager's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Defect Manager Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Defect Manager's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $76,724
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $78,922
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $81,767
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $82,748
  • Expert (over 8 years): $82,993
Job RoleYears of ExperienceAverage Salary
Entry Level Defect Manager less than 1 year $76,724
Early Career Level Defect Manager 1-2 years $78,922
Mid-Level Level Defect Manager 2-4 years $81,767
Senior-Level Level Defect Manager 5-8 years $82,748
Expert Level Defect Manager over 8 years $82,993

How Do Defect Manager Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Defect Managers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $90,985.
  • California: $90,640.
  • Massachusetts: $89,432.

Top Paying Cities for Defect Manager

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $103,648
  • San Francisco: $102,513
  • Oakland: $100,353

Defect Manager Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Defect Manager roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 65% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Financial Services and Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Defect Manager positions in Business Services or Insurance typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Defect Manager as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Defect Manager

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services $115,046 $55.0 40%
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit $86,285 $41.0 5%

How Education impacts a Defect Manager's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Defect Manager professionals enter the field with a high school degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Defect Manager with a high school is between $80,299 and $87,635.

Defect Manager Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Defect Manager
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Degree 1.7%
High School 49.2%
Associate's Degree 49.2%
Bachelor's Degree 49.2%
Master's Degree or MBA 49.2%
JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent 0%
View as Graph

Defect Manager Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Defect Manager's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$72,668
Average $82,176/year
$88,060
$6,056
Average $6,848/month
$7,338
$1,397
Average $1,580/week
$1,693
$35
Average $40/hour
$42
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $88,060 $7,338 $1,693 $42
Average $82,176 $6,848 $1,580 $40
25th Percentile $72,668 $6,056 $1,397 $35

Most common benefits for Defect Manager

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Defect Manager

Here are companies hiring for Defect Manager and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Defect Manager Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Defect Manager job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

  • Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Associate Vice President Internal Communications

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Associate Vice President, Internal Communications. About the Company. National consulting & advisory services firm focused on the healthcare industry. Indu... more

    20 Days Ago

  • C.R. England | Columbus, OH

    Local CDL

    C.R. England | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. C.R. England is Now Urgently Hiring Local Dedicated CDL-A Truck Drivers. \n. Dedicated Local Fleet - Home Daily - Competitive Pay* - Full ... more

    25 Days Ago

  • Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President Credit Risk Strategy&Data Science

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Credit Risk Strategy & Data Science. About the Company. High-growth SMB lender building the next generation of credit decisioning. Industry... more

    25 Days Ago

  • Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President Payments Engineering

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Payments Engineering. About the Company. Globally-recognized provider of corporate payment solutions. Industry. Financial Services. Type. P... more

    27 Days Ago

  • Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Senior Vice President of Project Delivery

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Senior Vice President of Project Delivery. About the Company. A multi-billion-dollar construction organization with collaborative, servant-minded leadershi... more

    27 Days Ago

  • USPS | Columbus, OH

    USPS Postal Workers

    USPS | Columbus, OH

    The United States Postal Service (USPS) is seeking Mail Carriers and City Carrier Assistants (CCA) to deliver mail and packages to residential and business... more

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FAQ about Defect Manager

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Defect Manager?

The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Defect Manager roles, with salaries approximately 40% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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