Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester Salary in Boston, MA
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $122,210 a year — 17% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $88,906 take-home, or $7,409 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
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- Federal income tax$18,064
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,577
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,772
- Massachusetts income tax$5,891
- Take-home pay$88,906
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 5.00% state
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro spans Massachusetts, New Hampshire. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $68,050 | $32.72 | $53,521 | $4,460 |
| 25th percentile | $79,640 | $38.29 | $61,095 | $5,091 |
| Median (50th) | $122,210 | $58.75 | $88,906 | $7,409 |
| 75th percentile | $142,720 | $68.62 | $101,899 | $8,492 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $168,030 | $80.78 | $117,933 | $9,828 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $122,210 buys in Boston, MA
Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.48× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median software quality assurance analyst and tester's $88,906 take-home pay has the buying power of $82,118 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Boston, MA has 1.9× the national concentration of software quality assurance analyst and tester jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for software quality assurance analysts and testers, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #16 of 54 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $166,530 | $111,667 | $101,126 |
| 2 | Boulder, CO | $136,410 | $99,209 | $94,303 |
| 3 | Colorado Springs, CO | $128,520 | $94,163 | $93,502 |
| 4 | Durham, NC | $122,980 | $90,925 | $93,187 |
| 5 | Baltimore, MD | $129,880 | $94,175 | $90,131 |
| 6 | Seattle, WA | $129,690 | $99,909 | $89,900 |
| 7 | Denver, CO | $123,690 | $91,074 | $86,096 |
| 8 | Raleigh, NC | $110,800 | $82,866 | $84,421 |
| 16 | Boston, MA | $122,210 | $88,906 | $82,118 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 54 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a software quality assurance analyst and tester make in Boston, MA?
The median software quality assurance analyst and tester salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $122,210 a year, or about $58.75 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $79,640 and $142,720.
What is a software quality assurance analyst and tester’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $122,210 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $88,906 a year ($7,409 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,891 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a software quality assurance analyst and tester?
Pay here is 17% above the national median of $104,300. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $82,118 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #16 of 54 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a software quality assurance analyst and tester afford rent in Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 for two bedrooms) — 31% of a median software quality assurance analyst and tester’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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