Principal Test Automation Engineer.
Nashville.
$203,000
median salary, 1% above the national average
$159,000 to $265,000. Last updated April 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
The median Principal Test Automation Engineer salary in Nashville is $203,000, 1% above the national average. Entry level starts near $159,000. Experienced professionals push past $265,000. Nashville has diversified well beyond music into healthcare, finance, and technology. That spread is your negotiation window.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $183,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$132,000
to $162,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$173,000
to $213,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$223,000
to $264,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$254,000
to $315,000
Salary trend
+7% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $41,000 to the total package.
Base
$203,000
Equity
$22,000
Bonus
$15,000
Signing
$4,000
Estimated total: $244,000
How Nashville compares
Nashville, TN
$203,000
Cost of living: at average
National Average
$201,000
Nashville is $2,000 above
Principal Test Automation Engineer salary by city
Salary by role in Nashville
What you should know
Nashville has diversified well beyond music into healthcare, finance, and technology. The city is home to HCA Healthcare and a growing corridor of health tech startups. Nashville's moderate cost of living, combined with Tennessee's lack of state income tax on wages, makes it increasingly popular for corporate relocations and remote workers. That is the backdrop for every Principal Test Automation Engineer offer you will see here.
One thing people overlook: taxes. Tennessee has no state income tax on wages or salaries. This gives Nashville workers a meaningful take home advantage over peers in states with 5 to 10% income tax rates. The salary on the offer letter is not the salary in your bank account. Always model your take home before you accept.
On negotiation: Use the healthcare industry concentration as leverage. Nashville healthcare employers are accustomed to national pay scales and will often match or beat coastal health sector offers. The range for Principal Test Automation Engineers in Nashville runs from $159,000 to $265,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: SEC filings, H-1B LCA (DOL), BLS OES, 50+ job posting platforms. COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified April 8, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
- A Multimodal AI Engineer in Nashville earns $204,000 (0% more)
- The highest-paying role in Nashville is Technical Fellow at $364,000
Common questions.
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