At a glance
Median pay for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers runs from $72,400 in Little Rock to $166,530 in San Jose across 72 curated metros; the middle value is $100,670.
After the BEA 2024 price adjustment, the top three are San Jose ($150,811), Durham ($126,040), Baltimore ($124,303).
These are workforce estimates from published medians, not job offers or expected hiring pay.
Sources: BLS wages (May 2025) · BEA price parity (2024) · Census ACS (2020–2024) · metro areas, not city limits · How we calculate
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers salary comparison
Software quality roles vary between manual testing, automation and specialized quality engineering. Broad wage estimates combine multiple profiles. 72 of 75 curated metros have a reported occupation median. The table is sorted by the site-calculated adjusted metric, not by predicted hiring demand.
Scroll sideways to explore every column →
| Metropolitan area | Median annual wage | Adjusted median* | Median gross rent / month |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $166,530 | $150,811 | $2,840 |
| Durham, NC | $122,980 | $126,040 | $1,466 |
| Baltimore, MD | $129,880 | $124,303 | $1,611 |
| Denver, CO | $123,690 | $116,929 | $1,874 |
| Seattle, WA | $129,690 | $116,698 | $2,000 |
| San Francisco, CA | $134,630 | $116,449 | $2,474 |
| Washington, DC–VA–MD–WV | $126,350 | $116,041 | $2,027 |
| New York, NY–NJ | $130,540 | $115,971 | $1,830 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $128,010 | $115,365 | $2,083 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $108,230 | $113,275 | $1,156 |
| Raleigh, NC | $110,800 | $112,880 | $1,573 |
| Boston, MA–NH | $122,210 | $112,879 | $2,023 |
| Cleveland, OH | $102,190 | $108,802 | $1,050 |
| Richmond, VA | $106,300 | $108,627 | $1,447 |
| Omaha, NE–IA | $99,580 | $108,344 | $1,192 |
| Virginia Beach, VA–NC | $105,970 | $108,198 | $1,478 |
| Columbus, OH | $103,110 | $108,004 | $1,274 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $122,210 | $107,611 | $2,063 |
| San Diego, CA | $120,210 | $107,439 | $2,246 |
| Des Moines, IA | $98,190 | $107,076 | $1,150 |
Show all 72 metros with a reported median
Scroll sideways to explore every column →
| Metropolitan area | Median annual wage | Adjusted median* | Median gross rent / month |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $166,530 | $150,811 | $2,840 |
| Durham, NC | $122,980 | $126,040 | $1,466 |
| Baltimore, MD | $129,880 | $124,303 | $1,611 |
| Denver, CO | $123,690 | $116,929 | $1,874 |
| Seattle, WA | $129,690 | $116,698 | $2,000 |
| San Francisco, CA | $134,630 | $116,449 | $2,474 |
| Washington, DC–VA–MD–WV | $126,350 | $116,041 | $2,027 |
| New York, NY–NJ | $130,540 | $115,971 | $1,830 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $128,010 | $115,365 | $2,083 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $108,230 | $113,275 | $1,156 |
| Raleigh, NC | $110,800 | $112,880 | $1,573 |
| Boston, MA–NH | $122,210 | $112,879 | $2,023 |
| Cleveland, OH | $102,190 | $108,802 | $1,050 |
| Richmond, VA | $106,300 | $108,627 | $1,447 |
| Omaha, NE–IA | $99,580 | $108,344 | $1,192 |
| Virginia Beach, VA–NC | $105,970 | $108,198 | $1,478 |
| Columbus, OH | $103,110 | $108,004 | $1,274 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $122,210 | $107,611 | $2,063 |
| San Diego, CA | $120,210 | $107,439 | $2,246 |
| Des Moines, IA | $98,190 | $107,076 | $1,150 |
| Greensboro, NC | $99,340 | $106,972 | $1,093 |
| Buffalo, NY | $101,880 | $106,298 | $1,057 |
| Atlanta, GA | $105,800 | $105,739 | $1,672 |
| Austin, TX | $103,070 | $105,103 | $1,726 |
| Worcester, MA | $107,370 | $104,728 | $1,426 |
| Portland, OR–WA | $109,760 | $104,116 | $1,724 |
| Greenville, SC | $96,960 | $103,967 | $1,150 |
| Tucson, AZ | $100,650 | $103,874 | $1,212 |
| Boise City, ID | $102,110 | $103,780 | $1,487 |
| Orlando, FL | $104,250 | $102,792 | $1,760 |
| Kansas City, MO–KS | $94,970 | $102,623 | $1,249 |
| Detroit, MI | $102,390 | $102,086 | $1,207 |
| Chicago, IL–IN | $105,580 | $101,916 | $1,430 |
| San Antonio, TX | $95,990 | $101,345 | $1,363 |
| Albany, NY | $100,690 | $101,129 | $1,280 |
| Providence, RI–MA | $102,750 | $100,960 | $1,307 |
| Rochester, NY | $97,840 | $100,830 | $1,143 |
| Madison, WI | $97,840 | $100,568 | $1,354 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $97,390 | $100,467 | $1,139 |
| Philadelphia, PA–NJ–DE–MD | $102,740 | $100,181 | $1,480 |
| Dallas, TX | $103,210 | $100,116 | $1,614 |
| Houston, TX | $98,690 | $100,062 | $1,430 |
| St. Louis, MO–IL | $94,590 | $99,476 | $1,113 |
| Tulsa, OK | $88,680 | $99,401 | $1,078 |
| Riverside, CA | $105,720 | $99,322 | $1,846 |
| Nashville, TN | $95,280 | $98,902 | $1,528 |
| Memphis, TN–MS–AR | $91,040 | $98,764 | $1,220 |
| Charleston, SC | $99,250 | $98,304 | $1,605 |
| North Port, FL | $100,450 | $98,079 | $1,747 |
| Tampa, FL | $98,870 | $97,998 | $1,628 |
| Sacramento, CA | $104,410 | $97,881 | $1,819 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $93,510 | $97,716 | $1,191 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $97,030 | $97,533 | $1,513 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $100,740 | $97,507 | $1,702 |
| Minneapolis, MN–WI | $102,130 | $97,432 | $1,440 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $102,090 | $95,533 | $1,875 |
| Hartford, CT | $96,160 | $93,590 | $1,416 |
| Grand Rapids, MI | $88,780 | $92,919 | $1,202 |
| Knoxville, TN | $85,970 | $92,871 | $1,145 |
| Fresno, CA | $94,350 | $92,357 | $1,392 |
| Cincinnati, OH–KY–IN | $87,940 | $92,209 | $1,105 |
| Columbia, SC | $86,320 | $92,161 | $1,193 |
| Allentown, PA–NJ | $91,520 | $91,549 | $1,365 |
| Birmingham, AL | $82,060 | $89,542 | $1,172 |
| Dayton, OH | $81,950 | $88,409 | $1,039 |
| Miami, FL | $100,050 | $87,644 | $1,869 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $82,900 | $87,566 | $1,053 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $77,700 | $85,944 | $1,124 |
| Louisville, KY–IN | $79,040 | $84,922 | $1,116 |
| Charlotte, NC–SC | $81,990 | $84,224 | $1,473 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $82,940 | $82,226 | $1,583 |
| Little Rock, AR | $72,400 | $81,017 | $1,055 |
The table shows the 20 highest adjusted medians; the full list of 72 metros is expandable above. The price-adjusted wage equals the BLS May 2025 annual occupational median × 100 ÷ the BEA 2024 all-items regional price parity. Census rent, household income and commuting figures are ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. They describe different populations and do not determine take-home pay, employment prospects or individual rent. ACS gross rent includes contract rent plus estimated utility and fuel costs.
How pay for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers varies across metros
Across the 72 curated metros with a reported median, the nominal annual median for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers runs from $72,400 in Little Rock to $166,530 in San Jose, a 2.30× difference. After dividing each median by its metro’s BEA price parity, the range is $81,017 in Little Rock to $150,811 in San Jose, a 1.86× difference. The middle value across these metros is $100,670 nominal and $100,895 adjusted.
The price adjustment changes the order. Out of 72 metros, Omaha moves from 40th on nominal pay to 15th on adjusted pay while Sacramento moves from 22nd to 51st. These ranks compare published medians only, not openings or offers.
Beyond the median: published wage percentiles
The following six metros lead this curated set on the price-adjusted median measure. The five annual wage statistics are the original BLS estimates; they have not been price-adjusted. They illustrate the estimated wage distribution for the same occupation and geographic unit.
Scroll sideways to explore every column →
| Metropolitan area | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $84,240 | $123,680 | $166,530 | $184,230 | $215,130 |
| Durham, NC | $65,280 | $85,330 | $122,980 | $137,550 | $166,820 |
| Baltimore, MD | $80,350 | $102,070 | $129,880 | $160,700 | $169,930 |
| Denver, CO | $80,590 | $95,800 | $123,690 | $140,930 | $169,990 |
| Seattle, WA | $74,880 | $98,410 | $129,690 | $168,210 | $210,190 |
| San Francisco, CA | $75,100 | $97,320 | $134,630 | $168,050 | $205,990 |
Percentiles describe a distribution, not an individual’s pay; suppressed values are marked Unavailable.
National career outlook and entry requirements
The BLS projects national employment for Software quality assurance analysts and testers from 2025 to 2035. These occupational projections are national; they do not forecast openings in any particular metro area.
Among the 80 occupations curated on this site, projected 2025–2035 growth of +5.7% ranks 36th (the middle value is +5.0%), and about 10,700 projected annual openings rank 69th. This compares only the occupations on this site and does not predict hiring in any one metro.
The BLS lists no related work experience as typically required for entry. It lists no typical on-the-job training. National employment base: 187,600 workers in 2025; projected 198,200 in 2035.
Openings are projected national totals, including replacements, not job ads or local vacancies. Education and training categories are typical patterns; licensing varies by role. BLS 2025–2035 Occupational Projections, Table 1.2. Read the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
What to check for this occupation before moving
How roles can differ: Software quality assurance roles may emphasize manual exploratory testing, test automation or reliability work across different products. The occupation code does not indicate which testing skills or release responsibilities a particular offer requires.
Questions to ask about a real offer: Ask about automation ownership, production support, release cadence, on-call responsibilities and work-location policy. Compare role scope as well as base pay and benefits.
This is editorial guidance, not a claim that every employer or state follows these practices; verify terms with the employer and relevant authorities.
What this occupation median does—and does not—tell you
BLS OEWS wages are employer-reported estimates for wage-and-salary jobs, so self-employment income is not included. Annual figures assume a 2,080-hour year. Wages include commissions and tips but exclude overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits. A median is neither a new-hire salary nor a vacancy count.
Regional price parities compare overall price levels with the U.S. average; housing data come from a different survey and are not subtracted again from the wage. Missing wages and suppressed percentiles stay unavailable. See the methodology for details.
Salary for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers in Minneapolis, MN–WI
Minneapolis is shown as a worked example (one of the larger metros on this site); it is not a recommendation, and the table above lists every metro with a reported median. Of 72 metros, it ranks 31st on nominal median and 55th on price-adjusted median.
For the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro, the May 2025 BLS annual occupational median is $102,130. The published 25th-to-75th-percentile wage interval is $81,830 to $128,680. The price-adjusted median of $97,432 applies the BEA 2024 all-items index of 104.8 (U.S. = 100). It does not reflect an employer offer, taxes or your individual household costs.
The ACS metro-wide gross-rent median is $1,440 per month; with an ACS margin of error of ±$9. Gross rent includes estimated utilities and covers renters generally, not workers in this occupation. For a data-driven contrast, Phoenix has a published BLS median of $100,740 and adjusted median of $97,507. This comparison metro has the closest observed adjusted median in our curated set. This does not establish similar rents or local job conditions. Compare Minneapolis with Phoenix in the interactive tool, or review the Minneapolis metro profile for income, housing uncertainty and commute context.
Before relying on a quoted salary, confirm that the job matches this BLS occupation and that pay period, hours and benefits are comparable.