How much do Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers make?
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers earn a median annual salary of $104,300 in the United States, which works out to roughly $50.14 per hour for full-time work. Most earn between $61,440 at the entry level and $167,010 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $80,310 and $133,180 a year.
That is $42,910 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers salary range by percentile
Half of all Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers earn between $80,310 and $133,180 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,440 | $29.54 | |
| 25th percentile (early career) | $80,310 | $38.61 | |
| 50th percentile (median) | $104,300 | $50.14 | |
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $133,180 | $64.03 | |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $167,010 | $80.29 |
Highest-paying states for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. California leads the country for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers pay at $128,740 a year, followed by Washington ($128,480) and Colorado ($123,690). At the other end, West Virginia posts the lowest median at $62,300 — a gap of $66,440 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
| # | State | Median salary | Hourly | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $128,740 | $61.89 | +23% |
| 2 | Washington | $128,480 | $61.77 | +23% |
| 3 | Colorado | $123,690 | $59.47 | +19% |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $122,210 | $58.75 | +17% |
| 5 | Virginia | $121,590 | $58.46 | +17% |
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 46 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Workforce and education
About 187,000 people work as Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $111,490 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
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