Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester Salary
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers earn a median $104,300 a year nationally. Computer and Mathematical Occupations
What software quality assurance analysts and testers do
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)
- Openings per year
- 10,700
Employment of software quality assurance analysts and testers is projected to grow 5.7% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 10,700 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
- Federal income tax$14,116
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,467
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,512
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$82,205
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,440 | $29.54 | $51,547 |
| 25th percentile | $80,310 | $38.61 | $65,328 |
| Median (50th) | $104,300 | $50.14 | $82,205 |
| 75th percentile | $133,180 | $64.03 | $102,295 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $167,010 | $80.29 | $125,417 |
Best cities for software quality assurance analysts and testers (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $166,530 | $111,667 | $101,126 | 6,480 |
| 2 | Baltimore, MD | $129,880 | $94,175 | $90,131 | 2,670 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $129,690 | $99,909 | $89,900 | 6,650 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $123,690 | $91,074 | $86,096 | 3,620 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $130,540 | $93,828 | $83,356 | 11,460 |
| 6 | Austin, TX | $103,070 | $81,340 | $82,944 | 3,340 |
| 7 | Washington, DC | $126,350 | $89,855 | $82,524 | 8,460 |
| 8 | Boston, MA | $122,210 | $88,906 | $82,118 | 6,050 |
| 9 | San Francisco, CA | $134,630 | $93,244 | $80,652 | 5,880 |
| 10 | Houston, TX | $98,690 | $78,258 | $79,346 | 2,420 |
| 11 | Dallas, TX | $103,210 | $81,438 | $78,997 | 8,840 |
| 12 | Atlanta, GA | $105,800 | $78,392 | $78,347 | 5,270 |
| 13 | Philadelphia, PA | $102,740 | $77,953 | $76,012 | 2,650 |
| 14 | Los Angeles, CA | $122,210 | $86,072 | $75,790 | 7,200 |
| 15 | Chicago, IL | $105,580 | $78,024 | $75,316 | 5,010 |
| 16 | Phoenix, AZ | $100,740 | $77,391 | $74,907 | 3,160 |
| 17 | Charlotte, NC | $81,990 | $63,747 | $65,484 | 3,900 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- San Jose, CA — $166,530
- San Francisco, CA — $134,630
- New York, NY — $130,540
- Baltimore, MD — $129,880
- Seattle, WA — $129,690
- Washington, DC — $126,350
- Denver, CO — $123,690
- Boston, MA — $122,210
- Los Angeles, CA — $122,210
- Atlanta, GA — $105,800
- Chicago, IL — $105,580
- Dallas, TX — $103,210
- Austin, TX — $103,070
- Philadelphia, PA — $102,740
- Phoenix, AZ — $100,740
Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $128,740 | +1.4% | $89,843 | $65,890 – $201,070 | 27,710 |
| Washington | $128,480 | +0.2% | $99,082 | $74,180 – $202,730 | 7,970 |
| Colorado | $123,690 | +7.9% | $91,074 | $79,780 – $172,930 | 5,110 |
| Massachusetts | $122,210 | +15.2% | $88,906 | $68,050 – $168,000 | 6,640 |
| Virginia | $121,590 | −1.4% | $88,191 | $78,820 – $169,200 | 10,160 |
| New York | $121,240 | +11.4% | $88,009 | $58,180 – $182,910 | 10,460 |
| New Jersey | $119,470 | +6.9% | $87,457 | $70,150 – $168,680 | 6,550 |
| New Mexico | $116,580 | +10.5% | $86,463 | $77,760 – $160,430 | 450 |
| Maryland | $111,100 | −9.2% | $82,064 | $77,270 – $171,810 | 5,880 |
| Oregon | $108,440 | +5.3% | $76,459 | $57,640 – $184,060 | 1,840 |
| New Hampshire | $107,100 | −2.7% | $84,175 | $56,190 – $160,190 | 770 |
| Delaware | $106,060 | +0.0% | $77,784 | $76,750 – $143,880 | 520 |
| Illinois | $104,910 | +4.6% | $77,586 | $65,480 – $150,620 | 6,530 |
| Montana | $103,930 | +3.1% | $77,434 | $50,380 – $170,620 | 150 |
| District of Columbia | $103,340 | −6.2% | $75,714 | $65,210 – $144,820 | 760 |
| Georgia | $103,040 | +10.2% | $76,594 | $68,130 – $141,760 | 7,110 |
| Hawaii | $102,930 | +3.4% | $74,949 | $76,370 – $130,860 | — |
| Texas | $101,850 | +0.0% | $80,481 | $59,010 – $153,380 | 19,590 |
| Rhode Island | $101,790 | +6.9% | $77,206 | $80,220 – $136,590 | 400 |
| Minnesota | $101,700 | −3.1% | $74,984 | $66,090 – $137,310 | 2,630 |
| Alabama | $101,500 | +2.0% | $75,425 | $62,670 – $162,600 | 1,760 |
| Arizona | $100,650 | −2.8% | $77,330 | $63,920 – $143,000 | 3,890 |
| North Carolina | $100,390 | −2.2% | $75,958 | $61,190 – $148,710 | 8,890 |
| Florida | $100,210 | +3.6% | $79,328 | $57,970 – $150,620 | 10,320 |
| Michigan | $98,720 | +0.4% | $74,335 | $52,460 – $135,830 | 3,480 |
| Nebraska | $98,010 | +8.5% | $74,200 | $64,750 – $131,490 | 1,240 |
| Ohio | $98,000 | +16.7% | $75,860 | $60,340 – $130,100 | 4,400 |
| Connecticut | $97,740 | −3.5% | $73,789 | $46,080 – $153,990 | 1,160 |
| South Carolina | $97,500 | +4.7% | $72,728 | $50,070 – $135,390 | 1,740 |
| Kansas | $94,490 | +13.7% | $70,831 | $57,050 – $133,590 | 1,140 |
| Pennsylvania | $93,030 | −0.6% | $71,421 | $58,970 – $133,120 | 4,530 |
| Tennessee | $91,040 | +1.0% | $72,877 | $61,580 – $125,760 | 1,530 |
| Wisconsin | $89,400 | +9.2% | $68,365 | $62,460 – $161,500 | 3,800 |
| Iowa | $88,590 | +3.6% | $68,438 | $55,640 – $126,290 | 1,000 |
| Indiana | $87,020 | −2.1% | $67,511 | $56,900 – $130,970 | 1,610 |
| Maine | $86,050 | +8.9% | $64,709 | $45,730 – $123,360 | 390 |
| Missouri | $85,530 | +12.3% | $65,918 | $55,030 – $141,350 | 2,930 |
| North Dakota | $83,920 | +2.7% | $67,490 | $63,060 – $106,000 | 200 |
| Utah | $82,100 | −23.4% | $63,859 | $45,960 – $134,940 | 2,600 |
| Mississippi | $79,890 | +5.3% | $62,569 | $45,770 – $126,740 | 350 |
| Kentucky | $79,100 | −0.4% | $61,826 | $44,290 – $128,340 | 890 |
| Oklahoma | $77,700 | +13.1% | $60,541 | $46,950 – $121,970 | 1,620 |
| Vermont | $76,580 | −0.6% | $60,110 | $60,480 – $144,890 | 170 |
| South Dakota | $68,120 | +10.2% | $56,752 | $47,670 – $104,840 | 220 |
| Louisiana | $66,810 | +33.3% | $54,213 | $36,890 – $115,330 | 450 |
| West Virginia | $62,300 | +1.4% | $50,170 | $37,050 – $127,210 | 390 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web and Digital Interface Designer | $104,000 | Bachelor's degree | +6.0% |
| Computer Programmer | $100,390 | Bachelor's degree | -7.3% |
| Web Developer | $92,650 | Bachelor's degree | +3.8% |
| Software Developer | $135,980 | Bachelor's degree | +10.2% |
| Database Administrator | $104,620 | Bachelor's degree | -0.1% |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $105,850 | Bachelor's degree | +7.9% |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrator | $99,130 | Bachelor's degree | -4.1% |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $116,580 | Bachelor's degree | +5.1% |
| Information Security Analyst | $129,180 | Bachelor's degree | +21.0% |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $76,220 | Associate's degree | +1.2% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a software quality assurance analyst and tester make?
The national median salary for software quality assurance analysts and testers is $104,300 a year ($50.14 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $61,440 and the top 10% earn over $167,010. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays software quality assurance analysts and testers the most?
California has the highest median pay at $128,740. After taxes and local prices, San Jose, CA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many software quality assurance analysts and testers are there in the U.S.?
About 186,740 people work as software quality assurance analysts and testers nationwide.