Home › Computer and Mathematical › Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers
Data current as of August 2026 · sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET
Average base salary
$115,500 / year
≈ $9,650 per month · $55.53 per hour
25th percentile
$83,000Average
$115,50075th percentile
$138,000
$83,000Average
$115,50075th percentile
$138,000
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
Alabama$109,500
Arizona$105,500
California$136,000
Colorado$127,500
Connecticut$102,000
Delaware$117,500
District of Columbia$111,500
Florida$106,000
Georgia$109,000
Hawaii$109,000
Illinois$111,500
Indiana$94,500
Iowa$95,000
Kansas$97,000
Kentucky$87,500
Louisiana$71,000
Maine$88,500
Maryland$127,500
Massachusetts$121,500
Michigan$100,500
Minnesota$108,500
Mississippi$86,500
Missouri$97,500
Montana$113,500
Nebraska$101,500
New Hampshire$112,500
New Jersey$125,000
New Mexico$127,000
New York$127,500
North Carolina$105,500
North Dakota$86,500
Ohio$99,000
Oklahoma$84,500
Oregon$120,000
Pennsylvania$97,000
Rhode Island$112,500
South Carolina$100,500
South Dakota$76,000
Tennessee$95,500
Texas$108,500
Utah$91,000
Vermont$91,500
Virginia$125,500
Washington$135,500
West Virginia$77,000
Wisconsin$101,500
About this role
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers is a professional role within the function in the Computer and Mathematical job family.
Pay for this title reflects both its level and its scope; see our Title Level and Organization Responsibility guides for how WePayFairly defines them.
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 Comprehension Speaking Critical Thinking Active Listening Writing Programming
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
$111,500Computer Systems Design and Related Services
57,200 workers
$109,500Publishing Industries
17,660 workers
$114,000Software Publishers
16,710 workers
$113,500Administrative and Support Services
10,840 workers
$109,000Management of Companies and Enterprises
10,290 workers
$125,500Management of Companies and Enterprises
10,290 workers
$125,500Insurance Carriers and Related Activities
9,890 workers
$104,500Credit Intermediation and Related Activities
8,830 workers
$115,500Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing
8,190 workers
$138,000National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
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).
Similar-paying roles in Computer and Mathematical
Database Administrator$114,000
Computer Systems Analyst$118,500
Biostatistician$119,500
Video Game Designer$121,500
Computer Programmer$109,000
Blockchain Engineer$126,500
Operations Research Analyst$103,000
Web Developer$102,500
Business Intelligence Analyst$131,000
Careers related to Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers
Software Developer$153,500
Web Administrator$126,500
Industrial Engineer$113,500
Computer Systems Analyst$118,500
Database Architect$149,500
Computer Hardware Engineer$168,500
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.
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