Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers (SOC 15-1253) earn a median $104,300 a year ($50.14 an hour) in the United States, with 186,740 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is California.
What software quality assurance analysts and testers do
Software quality assurance analysts and testers find problems in software before it reaches users. They design test plans, scenarios, scripts, and procedures, run the tests, and find and write up faults in how a program behaves, what it outputs, and how its screens work. Each defect is recorded in a bug tracking system and reported to the software or web developers, who fix it, and the testers then check that the fix works. Testers also test changes to systems before they go live and create and maintain databases of known defects. Testing may cover areas such as database impacts, software scenarios, regression testing, negative testing, and usability. Titles include quality assurance analyst, software tester, and QA engineer. The occupation differs from software developers, who write the program, and from computer programmers. It is also distinct from quality control inspectors in manufacturing, who examine physical products. They also document test procedures so that tests can be repeated and meet standards, and they give developers feedback on usability and functionality.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a bachelor's degree as the typical level of education for this occupation.
Also called: Application Integrator, Applications Analyst, Applications Quality Assurance Specialist (Applications QA Specialist), Applications Software Engineering Information Technology Specialist (Applications Software Engineering IT Specialist), Applications System Analyst.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $29.54 | $38.61 | $50.14 | $64.03 | $80.29 | $53.60 | 186,740 |
| Annual | $61,440 | $80,310 | $104,300 | $133,180 | $167,010 | $111,490 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where software quality assurance analysts and testers earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $31.68 | $44.96 | $61.89 | $79.58 | $96.67 | $63.11 | 27,710 | 1.52 | 1.27 |
| Annual | $65,890 | $93,530 | $128,740 | $165,530 | $201,070 | $131,260 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $35.66 | $46.51 | $61.77 | $79.07 | $97.47 | $63.02 | 7,970 | 2.24 | 1.87 |
| Annual | $74,180 | $96,740 | $128,480 | $164,470 | $202,730 | $131,090 | ||||
| Colorado | Hourly | $38.36 | $46.30 | $59.47 | $69.12 | $83.14 | $59.30 | 5,110 | 1.78 | 1.48 |
| Annual | $79,780 | $96,310 | $123,690 | $143,780 | $172,930 | $123,340 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $32.72 | $38.54 | $58.76 | $68.03 | $80.77 | $56.38 | 6,640 | 1.83 | 1.52 |
| Annual | $68,050 | $80,160 | $122,210 | $141,500 | $168,000 | $117,270 | ||||
| Virginia | Hourly | $37.89 | $47.17 | $58.46 | $65.80 | $81.35 | $58.25 | 10,160 | 2.47 | 2.06 |
| Annual | $78,820 | $98,120 | $121,590 | $136,870 | $169,200 | $121,160 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $31.68 | $44.96 | $61.89 | $79.58 | $96.67 | $63.11 | 27,710 | 1.52 | 1.27 |
| Annual | $65,890 | $93,530 | $128,740 | $165,530 | $201,070 | $131,260 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $28.37 | $38.30 | $48.97 | $61.42 | $73.74 | $50.32 | 19,590 | 1.39 | 1.16 |
| Annual | $59,010 | $79,670 | $101,850 | $127,760 | $153,380 | $104,660 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $27.97 | $41.47 | $58.29 | $73.88 | $87.94 | $59.11 | 10,460 | 1.08 | 0.90 |
| Annual | $58,180 | $86,260 | $121,240 | $153,680 | $182,910 | $122,950 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $27.87 | $36.91 | $48.18 | $60.23 | $72.41 | $49.31 | 10,320 | 1.04 | 0.87 |
| Annual | $57,970 | $76,760 | $100,210 | $125,280 | $150,620 | $102,560 | ||||
| Virginia | Hourly | $37.89 | $47.17 | $58.46 | $65.80 | $81.35 | $58.25 | 10,160 | 2.47 | 2.06 |
| Annual | $78,820 | $98,120 | $121,590 | $136,870 | $169,200 | $121,160 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $40.50 | $59.46 | $80.06 | $88.57 | $103.43 | $76.94 | 6,480 | 5.71 | 4.76 |
| Annual | $84,240 | $123,680 | $166,530 | $184,230 | $215,130 | $160,040 | ||||
| Lexington Park, MD | Hourly | $46.09 | $49.30 | $70.93 | $82.60 | $104.44 | $73.86 | 400 | 5.69 | 4.73 |
| Annual | $95,860 | $102,550 | $147,520 | $171,810 | $217,230 | $153,640 | ||||
| Boulder, CO | Hourly | $40.60 | $49.30 | $65.58 | $79.87 | $93.32 | $65.62 | 500 | 2.62 | 2.18 |
| Annual | $84,450 | $102,550 | $136,410 | $166,120 | $194,110 | $136,490 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $36.11 | $46.79 | $64.73 | $80.79 | $99.03 | $65.69 | 5,880 | 2.48 | 2.06 |
| Annual | $75,100 | $97,320 | $134,630 | $168,050 | $205,990 | $136,630 | ||||
| Greeley, CO | Hourly | $39.23 | $44.61 | $64.59 | $78.99 | $100.47 | $65.32 | 60 | 0.51 | 0.43 |
| Annual | $81,600 | $92,800 | $134,350 | $164,290 | $208,970 | $135,860 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $36.29 | $48.07 | $62.76 | $76.51 | $87.18 | $62.78 | 11,460 | 1.21 | 1.00 |
| Annual | $75,490 | $99,990 | $130,540 | $159,140 | $181,330 | $130,580 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $29.37 | $39.41 | $49.62 | $61.35 | $74.04 | $51.57 | 8,840 | 2.18 | 1.82 |
| Annual | $61,090 | $81,980 | $103,210 | $127,610 | $154,010 | $107,270 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $39.12 | $47.79 | $60.74 | $71.81 | $84.25 | $60.63 | 8,460 | 2.70 | 2.25 |
| Annual | $81,360 | $99,410 | $126,350 | $149,370 | $175,240 | $126,100 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $29.16 | $40.08 | $58.76 | $72.12 | $82.16 | $57.49 | 7,200 | 1.15 | 0.96 |
| Annual | $60,660 | $83,360 | $122,210 | $150,020 | $170,880 | $119,570 | ||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $36.00 | $47.31 | $62.35 | $80.87 | $101.06 | $64.97 | 6,650 | 3.19 | 2.65 |
| Annual | $74,880 | $98,410 | $129,690 | $168,210 | $210,190 | $135,140 | ||||
Top industries employing software quality assurance analysts and testers
Computer Systems Design and Related Services employ 30.6% of software quality assurance analysts and testers nationally (57,200 jobs) at a median $99,960 a year ($48.06 an hour), followed by Software Publishers (8.9%) and Management of Companies and Enterprises (5.5%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services NAICS 541500 | 57,200 | 30.6% | $99,960 | $48.06 |
| Software Publishers NAICS 513200 | 16,710 | 8.9% | $101,070 | $48.59 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises NAICS 551100 | 10,290 | 5.5% | $107,990 | $51.92 |
| Employment Services NAICS 561300 | 8,050 | 4.3% | $102,200 | $49.13 |
| Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services NAICS 518200 | 7,950 | 4.3% | $104,220 | $50.11 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (186,740). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $98,220 for software quality assurance analysts and testers in May 2021 and $104,300 in May 2025, with employment of 190,120 and 186,740.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $98,220 | $47.22 | 190,120 |
| May 2022 | $99,620 | $47.89 | 196,420 |
| May 2023 | $101,800 | $48.94 | 203,040 |
| May 2024 | $102,610 | $49.33 | 199,800 |
| May 2025 | $104,300 | $50.14 | 186,740 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
48 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California profile | $61.89 | $128,740 | $65,890 | $201,070 | 27,710 | 1.52 | 1.27 |
| 2 | Washington profile | $61.77 | $128,480 | $74,180 | $202,730 | 7,970 | 2.24 | 1.87 |
| 3 | Colorado profile | $59.47 | $123,690 | $79,780 | $172,930 | 5,110 | 1.78 | 1.48 |
| 4 | Massachusetts profile | $58.76 | $122,210 | $68,050 | $168,000 | 6,640 | 1.83 | 1.52 |
| 5 | Virginia profile | $58.46 | $121,590 | $78,820 | $169,200 | 10,160 | 2.47 | 2.06 |
| 6 | New York profile | $58.29 | $121,240 | $58,180 | $182,910 | 10,460 | 1.08 | 0.90 |
| 7 | New Jersey profile | $57.44 | $119,470 | $70,150 | $168,680 | 6,550 | 1.53 | 1.27 |
| 8 | New Mexico profile | $56.05 | $116,580 | $77,760 | $160,430 | 450 | 0.51 | 0.43 |
| 9 | Maryland profile | $53.41 | $111,100 | $77,270 | $171,810 | 5,880 | 2.13 | 1.77 |
| 10 | Oregon profile | $52.13 | $108,440 | $57,640 | $184,060 | 1,840 | 0.94 | 0.78 |
| 11 | New Hampshire profile | $51.49 | $107,100 | $56,190 | $160,190 | 770 | 1.12 | 0.94 |
| 12 | Delaware profile | $50.99 | $106,060 | $76,750 | $143,880 | 520 | 1.08 | 0.90 |
| 13 | Illinois profile | $50.44 | $104,910 | $65,480 | $150,620 | 6,530 | 1.07 | 0.89 |
| 14 | Montana profile | $49.97 | $103,930 | $50,380 | $170,620 | 150 | 0.29 | 0.24 |
| 15 | District of Columbia profile | $49.68 | $103,340 | $65,210 | $144,820 | 760 | 1.08 | 0.90 |
| 16 | Georgia profile | $49.54 | $103,040 | $68,130 | $141,760 | 7,110 | 1.45 | 1.21 |
| 17 | Hawaii profile | $49.49 | $102,930 | $76,370 | $130,860 | ** | ** | ** |
| 18 | Texas profile | $48.97 | $101,850 | $59,010 | $153,380 | 19,590 | 1.39 | 1.16 |
| 19 | Rhode Island profile | $48.94 | $101,790 | $80,220 | $136,590 | 400 | 0.79 | 0.66 |
| 20 | Minnesota profile | $48.89 | $101,700 | $66,090 | $137,310 | 2,630 | 0.89 | 0.74 |
| 21 | Alabama profile | $48.80 | $101,500 | $62,670 | $162,600 | 1,760 | 0.83 | 0.69 |
| 22 | Arizona profile | $48.39 | $100,650 | $63,920 | $143,000 | 3,890 | 1.20 | 1.00 |
| 23 | North Carolina profile | $48.27 | $100,390 | $61,190 | $148,710 | 8,890 | 1.80 | 1.50 |
| 24 | Florida profile | $48.18 | $100,210 | $57,970 | $150,620 | 10,320 | 1.04 | 0.87 |
| 25 | Michigan profile | $47.46 | $98,720 | $52,460 | $135,830 | 3,480 | 0.79 | 0.66 |
| 26 | Nebraska profile | $47.12 | $98,010 | $64,750 | $131,490 | 1,240 | 1.21 | 1.01 |
| 27 | Ohio profile | $47.12 | $98,000 | $60,340 | $130,100 | 4,400 | 0.79 | 0.66 |
| 28 | Connecticut profile | $46.99 | $97,740 | $46,080 | $153,990 | 1,160 | 0.68 | 0.57 |
| 29 | South Carolina profile | $46.88 | $97,500 | $50,070 | $135,390 | 1,740 | 0.76 | 0.63 |
| 30 | Kansas profile | $45.43 | $94,490 | $57,050 | $133,590 | 1,140 | 0.79 | 0.66 |
| 31 | Pennsylvania profile | $44.73 | $93,030 | $58,970 | $133,120 | 4,530 | 0.75 | 0.62 |
| 32 | Tennessee profile | $43.77 | $91,040 | $61,580 | $125,760 | 1,530 | 0.47 | 0.39 |
| 33 | Wisconsin profile | $42.98 | $89,400 | $62,460 | $161,500 | 3,800 | 1.29 | 1.08 |
| 34 | Iowa profile | $42.59 | $88,590 | $55,640 | $126,290 | 1,000 | 0.64 | 0.53 |
| 35 | Indiana profile | $41.84 | $87,020 | $56,900 | $130,970 | 1,610 | 0.50 | 0.42 |
| 36 | Maine profile | $41.37 | $86,050 | $45,730 | $123,360 | 390 | 0.61 | 0.51 |
| 37 | Missouri profile | $41.12 | $85,530 | $55,030 | $141,350 | 2,930 | 1.00 | 0.83 |
| 38 | North Dakota profile | $40.35 | $83,920 | $63,060 | $106,000 | 200 | 0.47 | 0.39 |
| 39 | Utah profile | $39.47 | $82,100 | $45,960 | $134,940 | 2,600 | 1.50 | 1.25 |
| 40 | Mississippi profile | $38.41 | $79,890 | $45,770 | $126,740 | 350 | 0.30 | 0.25 |
| 41 | Kentucky profile | $38.03 | $79,100 | $44,290 | $128,340 | 890 | 0.45 | 0.37 |
| 42 | Oklahoma profile | $37.36 | $77,700 | $46,950 | $121,970 | 1,620 | 0.95 | 0.79 |
| 43 | Vermont profile | $36.82 | $76,580 | $60,480 | $144,890 | 170 | 0.54 | 0.45 |
| 44 | South Dakota profile | $32.75 | $68,120 | $47,670 | $104,840 | 220 | 0.48 | 0.40 |
| 45 | Louisiana profile | $32.12 | $66,810 | $36,890 | $115,330 | 450 | 0.23 | 0.19 |
| 46 | West Virginia profile | $29.95 | $62,300 | $37,050 | $127,210 | 390 | 0.55 | 0.46 |
| – | Idaho profile | * | * | * | * | 560 | 0.65 | 0.54 |
| – | Nevada profile | * | * | * | * | 1,270 | 0.82 | 0.68 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (15-1250), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Computer and Mathematical Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 15-1253 Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers.
*- Wage estimate not available.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 15-1253, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 15-1253.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.