SalariesWhat the occupation covers
Develop and execute software tests to identify software problems and their causes. Test system modifications to prepare for implementation. Document software and application defects using a bug tracking system and report defects to software or web developers. Create and maintain databases of known defects. May participate in software design reviews to provide input on functional requirements, operational characteristics, product designs, and schedules.
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 15-1253.
The pay range
Pay differs a lot inside one occupation, with experience, employer and place. The table shows where the lines fall.
| Share of workers | A year | A month* | A week* | An hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $61,440 | $5,120 | $1,182 | $29.54 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $80,310 | $6,692 | $1,544 | $38.61 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $104,300 | $8,692 | $2,006 | $50.14 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $133,180 | $11,098 | $2,561 | $64.03 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $167,010 | $13,918 | $3,212 | $80.29 |
* Month and week are the yearly figure divided by 12 and by 52, worked out here for convenience. BLS publishes the yearly and hourly figures.
How it compares
The median for all occupations in the United States was $50,980 a year. The median for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers is $104,300, which is 105% higher. Among the 21 occupations of the field Computer and Mathematical, it ranks number 13 by median pay. With 186,740 jobs, it makes up about 12 of every 10,000 jobs in the country.
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers pay by state
The highest median pay was in California ($128,740), Washington ($128,480) and Colorado ($123,690). The lowest was in Puerto Rico ($61,690), West Virginia ($62,300) and Louisiana ($66,810). The most jobs were in California (27,710), Texas (19,590) and New York (10,460). The occupation is most concentrated in Virginia, where its share of all jobs is 2.1 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median a year | Average a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 27,710 | $128,740 | $131,260 | $61.89 |
| Washington | 7,970 | $128,480 | $131,090 | $61.77 |
| Colorado | 5,110 | $123,690 | $123,340 | $59.47 |
| Massachusetts | 6,640 | $122,210 | $117,270 | $58.76 |
| Virginia | 10,160 | $121,590 | $121,160 | $58.46 |
| New York | 10,460 | $121,240 | $122,950 | $58.29 |
| New Jersey | 6,550 | $119,470 | $120,550 | $57.44 |
| New Mexico | 450 | $116,580 | $122,520 | $56.05 |
| Maryland | 5,880 | $111,100 | $123,410 | $53.41 |
| Oregon | 1,840 | $108,440 | $115,840 | $52.13 |
| New Hampshire | 770 | $107,100 | $108,730 | $51.49 |
| Delaware | 520 | $106,060 | $113,340 | $50.99 |
| Illinois | 6,530 | $104,910 | $107,950 | $50.44 |
| Montana | 150 | $103,930 | $109,480 | $49.97 |
| District of Columbia | 760 | $103,340 | $107,950 | $49.68 |
| Georgia | 7,110 | $103,040 | $105,320 | $49.54 |
| Hawaii | not published | $102,930 | $105,150 | $49.49 |
| Texas | 19,590 | $101,850 | $104,660 | $48.97 |
| Rhode Island | 400 | $101,790 | $108,720 | $48.94 |
| Minnesota | 2,630 | $101,700 | $104,720 | $48.89 |
| Alabama | 1,760 | $101,500 | $105,650 | $48.80 |
| Arizona | 3,890 | $100,650 | $101,790 | $48.39 |
| North Carolina | 8,890 | $100,390 | $102,060 | $48.27 |
| Florida | 10,320 | $100,210 | $102,560 | $48.18 |
| Michigan | 3,480 | $98,720 | $96,880 | $47.46 |
| Nebraska | 1,240 | $98,010 | $98,160 | $47.12 |
| Ohio | 4,400 | $98,000 | $95,890 | $47.12 |
| Connecticut | 1,160 | $97,740 | $98,740 | $46.99 |
| South Carolina | 1,740 | $97,500 | $96,910 | $46.88 |
| Kansas | 1,140 | $94,490 | $93,900 | $45.43 |
| Pennsylvania | 4,530 | $93,030 | $93,710 | $44.73 |
| Tennessee | 1,530 | $91,040 | $92,170 | $43.77 |
| Wisconsin | 3,800 | $89,400 | $97,890 | $42.98 |
| Iowa | 1,000 | $88,590 | $91,640 | $42.59 |
| Indiana | 1,610 | $87,020 | $91,470 | $41.84 |
| Maine | 390 | $86,050 | $85,510 | $41.37 |
| Missouri | 2,930 | $85,530 | $93,990 | $41.12 |
| North Dakota | 200 | $83,920 | $83,460 | $40.35 |
| Utah | 2,600 | $82,100 | $87,700 | $39.47 |
| Mississippi | 350 | $79,890 | $83,730 | $38.41 |
| Kentucky | 890 | $79,100 | $84,590 | $38.03 |
| Oklahoma | 1,620 | $77,700 | $81,720 | $37.36 |
| Vermont | 170 | $76,580 | $88,530 | $36.82 |
| South Dakota | 220 | $68,120 | $73,260 | $32.75 |
| Louisiana | 450 | $66,810 | $68,800 | $32.12 |
| West Virginia | 390 | $62,300 | $74,460 | $29.95 |
| Puerto Rico | 270 | $61,690 | $69,270 | $29.66 |
| Idaho | 560 | not published | not published | not published |
| Nevada | 1,270 | not published | not published | not published |
Sorted by median pay, highest first. "Not published" means BLS did not release that figure for the state, usually because too few employers were surveyed. "$239,200 or more" is the highest value BLS reports in the state tables.
Similar occupations by pay
- Computer Systems Analysts$105,850 a year
- Statisticians$105,650 a year
- Database Administrators$104,620 a year
- Web and Digital Interface Designers$104,000 a year
- Computer Programmers$100,390 a year
- Network and Computer Systems Administrators$99,130 a year
Common questions
How much do Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers earn in the United States?
The median pay was $104,300 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $61,440 and the highest-paid 10% more than $167,010.
How many people work as Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers?
About 186,740 jobs in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Checked in November 2026. Figures are for employees, before tax, and leave out overtime pay and benefits. They are official statistics, not advice or a pay offer; see bls.gov/oes for the original tables.