Qualcomm Employee Salaries 2026: Average Pay & Compensation
Qualcomm employee salaries are estimated at $108,945 average pay in 2025-2026, with $98,051 median pay and $174,312 average total compensation. Compare Qualcomm employee salaries by role, level, bonus, equity, benefits, and San Diego, CA location context before evaluating an offer.
Average Salary
$108,945
$9,079/mo
Total Compensation
$174,312
base + bonus + equity
Employees
51K
large company
Rating
3.9
★★★★☆
Direct answer
Qualcomm employee salaries 2025-2026: average pay and compensation
The average salary for Qualcomm employees is estimated at $108,945 in 2025-2026, with median pay of $98,051 and average total compensation of $174,312 when bonus, equity, and incentive pay are included. Entry-level roles start around $65,367, senior roles average $174,312, and the highest listed role benchmark is Product Manager at $114,000.
Reviewed by Brazora Monk · Page reviewed May 26, 2026 · Salary data last updated May 19, 2026. Source basis: employee-reported compensation, public filings where applicable, and BLS wage baselines; this is a planning estimate, not a guaranteed offer or internal HR pay band.
Search intent match
Qualcomm average employee salary, compensation and role pay
These are the four compensation questions people usually compare before applying to Qualcomm: average employee salary, average compensation per employee, salary by role, and salary range by level.
| Search question | 2026 answer | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Qualcomm average employee salary 2026 | $108,945 average base salary | Compare against the Telecommunications peer average of $109,835. |
| Qualcomm average compensation per employee | $174,312 average total compensation | Separate base salary from bonus and equity before comparing offers. |
| Qualcomm employee salaries by role | Product Manager: $114,000 | Software Engineer: $109,000 | Network Engineer: $100,000 | Use role-specific benchmarks instead of negotiating from the company average alone. |
| Qualcomm salary range 2025-2026 | $65,367 to $174,312 across listed entry-to-senior levels | Adjust for level, team, location, bonus cycle, and San Diego, CA cost context. |
Company-specific pay benchmark
Qualcomm Employee Salaries by Role: 2025-2026 Snapshot
Qualcomm employee salaries average $108,945 base pay and $174,312 average total compensation in this 2025-2026 benchmark. Within Telecommunications, that puts Qualcomm below the peer salary average of $109,835 by -1%. Use this snapshot to compare base salary, bonus potential, senior-level upside, and role-specific pay before accepting or negotiating an offer.
Vs. Telecommunications peers
-1%
peer avg $109,835
Total comp position
+13%
peer avg $154,109
Role pay spread
$25,000
Data Analyst to Product Manager
Senior premium
+167%
senior vs entry-level salary
| Negotiation area | Qualcomm benchmark | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Base salary | $108,945 average, $98,051 median | Compare the offer against the Telecommunications peer average and your exact role level. |
| Bonus target | 10% target, about $10,895 on average salary | Ask whether the target is guaranteed, discretionary, prorated, or tied to company performance. |
| Equity or incentives | 38% of estimated total comp is above base salary | Check vesting schedule, refresh grants, strike price or RSU value, and liquidity timing. |
| Location economics | San Diego, CA headquarters, $9,079 monthly average pay | Adjust for state taxes, local taxes, rent, commute cost, hybrid policy, and relocation support. |
Qualcomm Salary by Level
Salary progression from entry-level to director positions at Qualcomm.
Entry-level employees at Qualcomm earn around $65,367, while directors can earn $270,184 or more.
Qualcomm Average Pay by Role
| Role | Base Salary | Est. Total Comp |
|---|---|---|
| Product Manager | $114,000 | $125,400 |
| Software Engineer | $109,000 | $119,900 |
| Network Engineer | $100,000 | $110,000 |
| Project Manager | $96,000 | $105,600 |
| Data Analyst | $89,000 | $97,900 |
Total compensation estimates include base salary and an average 10% bonus. Stock options/equity are offered but vary significantly by role and level.
Qualcomm Benefits & Perks
Qualcomm Salary Calculator
Select a role and experience level to estimate your salary at Qualcomm.
Mid Career (5-9 yrs)
Estimated Salary at Qualcomm
$105,000
$8,750/month · $50.48/hr
Est. total comp with 10% bonus: $115,500
About Qualcomm
Qualcomm is a leading telecommunications company headquartered in San Diego, CA. With approximately 51K employees, it plays a significant role in the telecommunications sector, offering competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits packages.
Headquarters
San Diego, CA
Founded
1985
Industry
Telecommunications
Company Size
large
Employees
51,000
Median Salary
$98,051
Hourly Rate
$52.38/hr
Monthly Pay
$9,079
Qualcomm Employee Ratings
3.9
★★★★☆
Overall Rating
Similar Telecommunications Companies
Methodology & Sources for Qualcomm Salary Data
How we estimate Qualcomm compensation data: Our salary figures combine self-reported employee compensation data (Glassdoor, Levels.fyi, Comparably, Blind), SEC filings for public companies (DEF 14A proxy statements include executive compensation), and BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for industry baselines. We weight recent data points (last 2 years) higher to reflect current market conditions.
- Base salary distribution aggregated from employee-reported data points. Qualcomm (founded 1985, 51K employees, headquartered in San Diego, CA) is in the Telecommunications sector.
- Total compensation includes base salary, bonus, and where applicable, equity or other long-term incentives. At Qualcomm, bonuses vary by role, level, location, performance cycle, and business division.
- Level mapping normalizes role names across companies (Entry/Junior/Mid/Senior/Lead/Principal/Director) for cross-company comparison.
- Cost-of-living adjustment uses BLS regional CPI-U data when comparing Qualcomm's San Diego, CA salaries to other markets.
- Industry benchmarking compares Qualcomm compensation to BLS national averages for Telecommunications sector occupations.
Authoritative compensation data sources:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — national salary baselines for Telecommunications
- SEC EDGAR — Company Filings — public company executive compensation in DEF 14A proxies
- BLS Industries at a Glance — Telecommunications — sector employment, wages, productivity
- BLS Employment Cost Index — quarterly compensation trend data
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) — county-level wage data by industry
- DOL Wage and Hour Division — federal wage compliance and minimum wage
Disclaimer: Qualcomm compensation data is aggregated from multiple sources and reflects general patterns, not guaranteed offers. Actual salaries vary based on level, location, negotiation, performance, and equity vesting. For personalized career advice, consult HR professionals or executive coaches. For job offers, always negotiate based on multiple data points and your unique value.
Reviewed by Brazora Monk · Salary data last updated May 19, 2026 · Page reviewed May 26, 2026 · BLS data current as of latest annual release
Qualcomm Salary FAQ
What is the average salary at Qualcomm in 2026?
The average salary at Qualcomm is $108,945 per year in 2026. Entry-level positions start around $65,367, while senior professionals earn up to $174,312. Total compensation including bonuses and equity averages $174,312.
What benefits does Qualcomm offer?
Qualcomm offers a comprehensive benefits package including Health/dental/vision, 15 PTO days, Pet insurance, and 2 more benefits. The company also offers stock options or equity compensation. The average bonus is approximately 10% of base salary.
What are the highest paying roles at Qualcomm?
The highest paying roles at Qualcomm include Product Manager ($114,000), Software Engineer ($109,000), Network Engineer ($100,000). Executive-level positions can earn up to $272,363 or more annually.
How does Qualcomm compare to other Telecommunications companies?
Qualcomm has a 3.9/5.0 employee rating and $108,945 average salary. Compared to peers like Comcast and Comcast Telecom, it offers above-average compensation in the Telecommunications sector.
Is Qualcomm a good company to work for?
Qualcomm has a 3.9/5.0 overall rating and 3.9/5.0 work-life balance score. Employees give the company above-average ratings. The company is headquartered in San Diego, CA and was founded in 1985, employing 51K people worldwide.
What is the total compensation at Qualcomm?
Total compensation at Qualcomm averages $174,312 per year, which includes base salary ($108,945), bonuses (approximately 10% of base), and equity or long-term incentive grants. Senior and executive roles can see significantly higher total compensation packages.
Explore More Company Salaries
Compare salary data for 285 top companies across all industries. Find out what you should be earning.