Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers salary by state
Long-term incentive is not shown for this role. Equity awards are only disclosed publicly for the named executive officers of public companies, so no market figure exists for most jobs. See executive pay disclosures.
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About this role
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers is a professional role within the function in the Computer and Mathematical job family.
Typical entry preparation: Bachelor's Degree and up to 2 years of related work experience, per O*NET occupational data. Advancement typically requires additional years in role.
What Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testerss do
Typical education: Bachelor's Degree
Identify, analyze, and document problems with program function, output, online screen, or content.
Document software defects, using a bug tracking system, and report defects to software developers.
Develop testing programs that address areas such as database impacts, software scenarios, regression testing, negative testing, error or bug retests, or usability.
Design test plans, scenarios, scripts, or procedures.
Document test procedures to ensure replicability and compliance with standards.
Top skills:Reading ComprehensionSpeakingCritical ThinkingActive ListeningWritingProgramming
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers pay by experience level
Entry level$63,500
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$83,000
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$108,000
Mid-career median pay
Senior$138,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$173,000
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+10%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
14,000
projected openings per year
Growing faster than average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers salary by industry
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
78,350 workers
$111,500
Computer Systems Design and Related Services
57,200 workers
$109,500
Publishing Industries
17,660 workers
$114,000
Software Publishers
16,710 workers
$113,500
Administrative and Support Services
10,840 workers
$109,000
Management of Companies and Enterprises
10,290 workers
$125,500
Management of Companies and Enterprises
10,290 workers
$125,500
Insurance Carriers and Related Activities
9,890 workers
$104,500
Credit Intermediation and Related Activities
8,830 workers
$115,500
Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing
8,190 workers
$138,000
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
Who works in this role
About 72,000 people held this occupation in the United States in 2025.
Women
50.6%
White
57.1%
Black or African American
7.2%
Asian
34.3%
Hispanic or Latino
7.3%
Race categories and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity overlap, so shares can sum to more than 100 percent. Figures describe this occupation across the national workforce, not any single employer. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey, Annual Averages, Table 11, 2025.
Pay trend
National median annual wage, 2021 to 2025: $98,220 to $104,300.
+6.2% over this period
Medians as published each May in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics national estimates. Nominal dollars, not adjusted for inflation. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS.
Pay by experience level
How annual pay for this occupation spreads from newcomers to the highest paid, aged to 2026.
Entry10th percentile
$63,500
Early career25th percentile
$83,000
Median50th percentile
$108,000
Experienced75th percentile
$138,000
Top earners90th percentile
$173,000
Bands are the 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages for this occupation nationally. Percentiles reflect the full mix of tenure, employer, and location, so they approximate but do not equal years of experience. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS national estimates.
Where this job pays most
Top-paying states for this occupation, average annual wage aged to 2026.
State averages for this occupation from the BLS OEWS state estimates. Cost of living differs by state; a higher wage does not always mean more buying power.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, O*NET occupational database.
Typical duties and FLSA status
Core duties
Identify, analyze, and document problems with program function, output, online screen, or content.
Document software defects, using a bug tracking system, and report defects to software developers.
Develop testing programs that address areas such as database impacts, software scenarios, regression testing, negative testing, error or bug retests, or usability.
Design test plans, scenarios, scripts, or procedures.
Document test procedures to ensure replicability and compliance with standards.
FLSA classification (typical)
Typically Exempt · Professional, Administrative, or Executive exemption
Occupations in this SOC group are typically classified as Exempt when paid above the salary threshold, provided they satisfy the duties test for one of the FLSA exemption categories. Actual classification depends on the specific job duties, salary basis, and any applicable state or local rules. The current federal salary threshold for exemption is $684 per week ($35,568 per year), per the 2020 Department of Labor rule; the 2024 rule that would have raised the threshold was struck down by federal court in November 2024.
Pay outlook
Five-year pay outlook for this title
2026$115,500
2027$119,500
2028$123,500
2029$128,000
2030$132,500
2031$137,000
Projection assumes market wages keep rising about 3.5% a year, consistent with recent wage growth measured by the BLS Employment Cost Index. It reflects market movement for the title, not individual raises or promotions, which vary.
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Sources and assumptions
Modeled market estimate, aged to 2026. Underlying source families are BLS OEWS May 2025 for BLS-mapped occupations and the 2018–19 collection for corporate titles. Annual aging is compounded at approximately 3–4%; geographic, industry and company-size repricing are modeled. See the role details and methodology for the applicable source and assumptions.
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How much does a Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers make?
The median market pay for a Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers in the United States is about $115,500 per year in 2026, based on WePayFairly's market model.
What is the salary range for a Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers?
Most Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers pay falls between about $83,000 (25th percentile) and $138,000 (75th percentile), with top earners above $173,000.
What does a Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers do?
Core responsibilities include: identify, analyze, and document problems with program function, output, online screen, or content; and document software defects, using a bug tracking system, and report defects to software developers.
Is pay for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers roles growing?
Yes. The national median wage for this occupation moved from $98,220 in 2021 to $104,300 in 2025, a change of +6.2% in nominal dollars.
How this role compares
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers pays 6% below the average across 38 roles in the Computer and Mathematical job family (family average $123,500).
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers make?
The average base salary for a Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers in the United States is $115,500 per year, or about $55.53 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $83,000 and $138,000 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Computer and Mathematical roles?
The Computer and Mathematical job family averages $123,500 across 38 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role? WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
Need Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers pay benchmarked for your organization, or defensible compensation analysis for a dispute or valuation? Grahall builds it from primary sources, backed by an expert who testifies.
