Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester Salary in Durham, NC
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median $122,980 a year — 18% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $90,925 take-home, or $7,577 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median software quality assurance analyst and tester salary in Durham, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$18,249
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,625
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,783
- North Carolina income tax$4,398
- Take-home pay$90,925
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 3.99% state
Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester pay by experience in Durham, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $65,280 | $31.38 | $52,537 | $4,378 |
| 25th percentile | $85,330 | $41.02 | $65,964 | $5,497 |
| Median (50th) | $122,980 | $59.13 | $90,925 | $7,577 |
| 75th percentile | $137,550 | $66.13 | $100,302 | $8,358 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $166,820 | $80.20 | $119,140 | $9,928 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $122,980 buys in Durham, NC
Prices in Durham, NC are 2.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median software quality assurance analyst and tester's $90,925 take-home pay has the buying power of $93,187 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Durham, NC has 2.3× 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
Durham, NC ranks #4 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 North Carolina
- Raleigh, NC — $110,800
- Charlotte, NC — $81,990
Frequently asked questions
How much does a software quality assurance analyst and tester make in Durham, NC?
The median software quality assurance analyst and tester salary in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $122,980 a year, or about $59.13 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $85,330 and $137,550.
What is a software quality assurance analyst and tester’s take-home pay in Durham, NC?
On the median $122,980 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $90,925 a year ($7,577 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,398 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Durham, NC a good place to work as a software quality assurance analyst and tester?
Pay here is 18% above the national median of $104,300. Local prices are 2.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $93,187 would in a typical U.S. city. Durham, NC ranks #4 of 54 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a software quality assurance analyst and tester afford rent in Durham, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Durham, NC is $1,456 a month ($1,660 for two bedrooms) — 19% 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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