Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester Salary in Chicago, IL
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $105,580 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $78,024 take-home, or $6,502 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median software quality assurance analyst and tester salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$14,398
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,546
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,531
- Illinois income tax$5,081
- Take-home pay$78,024
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $67,010 | $32.22 | $52,799 | $4,400 |
| 25th percentile | $83,310 | $40.05 | $63,460 | $5,288 |
| Median (50th) | $105,580 | $50.76 | $78,024 | $6,502 |
| 75th percentile | $130,920 | $62.94 | $94,414 | $7,868 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $152,900 | $73.51 | $108,349 | $9,029 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $105,580 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median software quality assurance analyst and tester's $78,024 take-home pay has the buying power of $75,316 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester jobs are about as common in Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.93).
Best-paying cities for software quality assurance analysts and testers, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #15 of 17 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 | Baltimore, MD | $129,880 | $94,175 | $90,131 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $129,690 | $99,909 | $89,900 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $123,690 | $91,074 | $86,096 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $130,540 | $93,828 | $83,356 |
| 6 | Austin, TX | $103,070 | $81,340 | $82,944 |
| 7 | Washington, DC | $126,350 | $89,855 | $82,524 |
| 8 | Boston, MA | $122,210 | $88,906 | $82,118 |
| 15 | Chicago, IL | $105,580 | $78,024 | $75,316 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 17 metros →
About the job: software quality assurance analysts and testers
Develop and execute software tests to identify software problems and their causes. Test system modifications to prepare for implementation. Document software and application defects using a bug tracking system and report defects to software or web developers. Create and maintain databases of known defects. May participate in software design reviews to provide input on functional requirements, operational characteristics, product designs, and schedules.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +5.7% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a software quality assurance analyst and tester make in Chicago, IL?
The median software quality assurance analyst and tester salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $105,580 a year, or about $50.76 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $83,310 and $130,920.
What is a software quality assurance analyst and tester’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $105,580 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $78,024 a year ($6,502 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,081 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a software quality assurance analyst and tester?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $104,300. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $75,316 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #15 of 17 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a software quality assurance analyst and tester afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 24% 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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