How much does a Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers make?

The median annual wage for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers is $104,300 ($50 per hour). Pay ranges from about $61,440 at the 10th percentile to $167,010 at the 90th percentile.

What is the average salary for a Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers?

The average (mean) annual salary is $111,490, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.

Which state pays Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testerss the most?

California has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $128,740.

Is Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers a growing occupation?

BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 187K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.

What does a Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers do?

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..

Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers Salary

Computer and Mathematical Occupations · 187K employed in the U.S.

Median annual

$104,300

Median hourly

$50

Average annual

$111,490

Typical range

$61,440–$167,010

Pay distribution

10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.

10th$61,440

25th$80,310

Median$104,300

75th$133,180

90th$167,010

What this role pays

The median annual salary for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers is $104,300 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $50 an hour at a full-time schedule.

Develop and execute software tests to identify software problems and their causes. Test system modifications to prepare for implementation.

Most earn between $61,440 and $167,010 a year. There are roughly 187K people employed as software quality assurance analysts and testers in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.

Salary calculator

Convert your pay and see where it lands for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers.

Pay amountPay period

Hours / weekWeeks / year

Hourly: $50.14
Daily: $401
Weekly: $2,006
Bi-weekly: $4,012
Monthly: $8,692
Annual: $104,300

$104,300 a year is around the 50th percentile for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testerss. The median is $104,300.

Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers — U.S., May 2025
Percentile	Hourly	Annual
10th percentile	$29.50	$61,440
25th percentile	$38.60	$80,310
Median	$50.10	$104,300
75th percentile	$64.00	$133,180
90th percentile	$80.30	$167,010
Average (mean)	$53.60	$111,490
Employment	186,740 people

Key skills

Reading Comprehension
Active Listening
Speaking
Critical Thinking
Writing
Monitoring
Programming
Complex Problem Solving
Quality Control Analysis
Systems Evaluation

Highest-paying states

Median annual wage by state.

1California$128,740
2Washington$128,480
3Colorado$123,690
4Massachusetts$122,210
5Virginia$121,590
6New York$121,240
7New Jersey$119,470
8New Mexico$116,580
9Maryland$111,100
10Oregon$108,440
11New Hampshire$107,100
12Delaware$106,060

Top-paying metro areas

Median annual wage by metro area.

1San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$166,530
2Lexington Park, MD$147,520
3Boulder, CO$136,410
4San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$134,630
5Greeley, CO$134,350
6Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA$133,970
7Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY$130,710
8New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$130,540
9Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD$129,880
10Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$129,690
11Kennewick-Richland, WA$128,860
12Colorado Springs, CO$128,520

Related job titles

Employers advertise Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers roles under these titles.

Related occupations

What a Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers does

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.
Provide feedback and recommendations to developers on software usability and functionality.
Install, maintain, or use software testing programs.
Test system modifications to prepare for implementation.
Create or maintain databases of known test defects.
Develop or specify standards, methods, or procedures to determine product quality or release readiness.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers make?: The median annual wage for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers is $104,300 ($50 per hour). Pay ranges from about $61,440 at the 10th percentile to $167,010 at the 90th percentile.
What is the average salary for a Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers?: The average (mean) annual salary is $111,490, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
Which state pays Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testerss the most?: California has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $128,740.
Is Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers a growing occupation?: BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 187K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
What does a Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers do?: 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..