Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester Salary in Boston, MA
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $122,210 a year — 17% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $88,906 take-home, or $7,409 a month.
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Pre-filled with the median software quality assurance analyst and tester salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$18,064
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,577
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,772
- Massachusetts income tax$5,891
- Take-home pay$88,906
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 5.00% state
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro spans Massachusetts, New Hampshire. 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 Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $68,050 | $32.72 | $53,521 | $4,460 |
| 25th percentile | $79,640 | $38.29 | $61,095 | $5,091 |
| Median (50th) | $122,210 | $58.75 | $88,906 | $7,409 |
| 75th percentile | $142,720 | $68.62 | $101,899 | $8,492 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $168,030 | $80.78 | $117,933 | $9,828 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $122,210 buys in Boston, MA
Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.48× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median software quality assurance analyst and tester's $88,906 take-home pay has the buying power of $82,118 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Boston, MA 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
Boston, MA ranks #8 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 |
*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 Boston, MA?
The median software quality assurance analyst and tester salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $122,210 a year, or about $58.75 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $79,640 and $142,720.
What is a software quality assurance analyst and tester’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $122,210 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $88,906 a year ($7,409 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,891 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a software quality assurance analyst and tester?
Pay here is 17% above the national median of $104,300. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $82,118 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #8 of 17 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a software quality assurance analyst and tester afford rent in Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 for two bedrooms) — 31% 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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