Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester Salary in Houston, TX
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $98,690 a year — 5% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $78,258 take-home, or $6,522 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median software quality assurance analyst and tester salary in Houston, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$12,882
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,119
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,431
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$78,258
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester pay by experience in Houston, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $51,800 | $24.90 | $43,801 | $3,650 |
| 25th percentile | $70,890 | $34.08 | $58,701 | $4,892 |
| Median (50th) | $98,690 | $47.45 | $78,258 | $6,522 |
| 75th percentile | $126,360 | $60.75 | $97,633 | $8,136 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $147,360 | $70.85 | $111,987 | $9,332 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $98,690 buys in Houston, TX
Prices in Houston, TX are 1.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median software quality assurance analyst and tester's $78,258 take-home pay has the buying power of $79,346 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 less concentrated in Houston, TX than nationally (location quotient 0.61), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for software quality assurance analysts and testers, adjusted for cost of living
Houston, TX ranks #10 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 |
| 10 | Houston, TX | $98,690 | $78,258 | $79,346 |
*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.
Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester salaries elsewhere in Texas
- Austin, TX — $103,070
- Dallas, TX — $103,210
Frequently asked questions
How much does a software quality assurance analyst and tester make in Houston, TX?
The median software quality assurance analyst and tester salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $98,690 a year, or about $47.45 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $70,890 and $126,360.
What is a software quality assurance analyst and tester’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?
On the median $98,690 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $78,258 a year ($6,522 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a software quality assurance analyst and tester?
Pay here is 5% below the national median of $104,300. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $79,346 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #10 of 17 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a software quality assurance analyst and tester afford rent in Houston, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Houston, TX is $1,316 a month ($1,558 for two bedrooms) — 20% 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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