Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester Salary in Denver, CO
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn a median $123,690 a year — 19% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $91,074 take-home, or $7,590 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median software quality assurance analyst and tester salary in Denver, CO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$18,420
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,669
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,794
- Colorado income tax$4,734
- Take-home pay$91,074
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 4.40% state
Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester pay by experience in Denver, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $80,590 | $38.75 | $62,688 | $5,224 |
| 25th percentile | $95,800 | $46.06 | $72,719 | $6,060 |
| Median (50th) | $123,690 | $59.47 | $91,074 | $7,590 |
| 75th percentile | $140,930 | $67.75 | $102,099 | $8,508 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $169,990 | $81.73 | $120,683 | $10,057 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $123,690 buys in Denver, CO
Prices in Denver, CO are 5.8% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.47× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median software quality assurance analyst and tester's $91,074 take-home pay has the buying power of $86,096 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Denver, CO 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
Denver, CO ranks #7 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 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 54 metros →
Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester salaries elsewhere in Colorado
- Boulder, CO — $136,410
- Colorado Springs, CO — $128,520
Frequently asked questions
How much does a software quality assurance analyst and tester make in Denver, CO?
The median software quality assurance analyst and tester salary in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area is $123,690 a year, or about $59.47 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $95,800 and $140,930.
What is a software quality assurance analyst and tester’s take-home pay in Denver, CO?
On the median $123,690 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $91,074 a year ($7,590 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,734 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Denver, CO a good place to work as a software quality assurance analyst and tester?
Pay here is 19% above the national median of $104,300. Local prices are 5.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $86,096 would in a typical U.S. city. Denver, CO ranks #7 of 54 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a software quality assurance analyst and tester afford rent in Denver, CO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Denver, CO is $1,754 a month ($2,089 for two bedrooms) — 23% 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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