Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester Salary in Madison, WI
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers in the Madison, WI metro area earn a median $97,840 a year — 6% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $73,855 take-home, or $6,155 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median software quality assurance analyst and tester salary in Madison, WI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$12,695
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,066
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,419
- Wisconsin income tax$3,805
- Take-home pay$73,855
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.30% state
Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester pay by experience in Madison, WI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $64,080 | $30.81 | $51,630 | $4,302 |
| 25th percentile | $73,540 | $35.36 | $58,048 | $4,837 |
| Median (50th) | $97,840 | $47.04 | $73,855 | $6,155 |
| 75th percentile | $139,460 | $67.05 | $100,576 | $8,381 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $165,290 | $79.47 | $116,862 | $9,738 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Wisconsin resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $97,840 buys in Madison, WI
Prices in Madison, WI are 2.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 0% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median software quality assurance analyst and tester's $73,855 take-home pay has the buying power of $75,915 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Madison, WI has 3.0× 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
Madison, WI ranks #33 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 |
| 33 | Madison, WI | $97,840 | $73,855 | $75,915 |
*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 Wisconsin
- Milwaukee, WI — $97,390
Frequently asked questions
How much does a software quality assurance analyst and tester make in Madison, WI?
The median software quality assurance analyst and tester salary in the Madison, WI metro area is $97,840 a year, or about $47.04 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $73,540 and $139,460.
What is a software quality assurance analyst and tester’s take-home pay in Madison, WI?
On the median $97,840 salary, a single filer living in Wisconsin takes home about $73,855 a year ($6,155 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,805 in Wisconsin taxes in 2026.
Is Madison, WI a good place to work as a software quality assurance analyst and tester?
Pay here is 6% below the national median of $104,300. Local prices are 2.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $75,915 would in a typical U.S. city. Madison, WI ranks #33 of 54 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a software quality assurance analyst and tester afford rent in Madison, WI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Madison, WI is $1,377 a month ($1,600 for two bedrooms) — 22% of a median software quality assurance analyst and tester’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Madison, WI
- Software Developer — $130,630
- Computer Systems Analyst — $100,550
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $97,950
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator — $91,580
- Computer Network Support Specialist — $90,400
- Operations Research Analyst — $75,650
- Computer User Support Specialist — $59,590