Software Quality Assurance Testers Salary 2025: $101,943 Median Pay (BLS OEWS)
$101,943 per year is the national median annual wage for software quality assurance testers (BLS OEWS, May 2025 reference period). That works out to about $49/hour, with a 10th–90th percentile range of $84,240 to $215,130. The Bureau of Labor Statistics classifies this role under SOC code 15-1253.
Key Facts (BLS OEWS, May 2025)
- Median annual wage
- $101,943
- Median hourly wage
- $49/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $115,948
- Total US employment
- 132,070
- Top-paying metro
- San Jose, CA, CA ($166,530)
- BLS SOC code
- 15-1253
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 release.
Software Quality Assurance Tester (SOC 15-1253) is a high-paying U.S. occupation: national median wage of $101,943 across 132,070 reported workers per the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey.
Geographic wage spread is wide: across the 67 cities reporting data, median Software Quality Assurance Tester wages range from $72,400 to $166,530 — roughly 130% above the floor. The spread reflects cost-of-living, regional supply-and-demand, and industry-mix differences. Software Quality Assurance Tester sits in the Technology category — occupations with high national wage premiums driven by sustained labor-demand growth. Tech roles tend to show wider geographic spreads than other categories because remote-friendly hiring lets high-paying coastal employers compete for workers anywhere.
Salary Range (BLS Percentiles)
Software Quality Assurance Testers salaries range from $72,400 to $166,530 median across cities, depending on location, experience, and industry.
Software Quality Assurance Testers Salary by City (BLS OEWS)
| City | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | COL-Adjusted | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $84,240 | $117,156 | $166,530 | $190,830 | $215,130 | $85,051 | 6,480 |
| San Francisco, CA | $75,100 | $98,912 | $134,630 | $170,310 | $205,990 | $74,961 | 5,880 |
| New York, NY | $75,490 | $97,510 | $130,540 | $155,935 | $181,330 | $69,733 | 11,460 |
| Baltimore, MD | $80,350 | $100,162 | $129,880 | $149,905 | $169,930 | $113,730 | 2,670 |
| Seattle, WA | $74,880 | $96,804 | $129,690 | $169,940 | $210,190 | $86,807 | 6,650 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $74,610 | $96,174 | $128,520 | $152,055 | $175,590 | $122,986 | 610 |
| Washington, DC | $81,360 | $99,356 | $126,350 | $150,795 | $175,240 | $82,690 | 8,460 |
| Denver, CO | $80,590 | $97,830 | $123,690 | $146,840 | $169,990 | $109,654 | 3,620 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $60,660 | $85,280 | $122,210 | $146,545 | $170,880 | $73,620 | 7,200 |
| Boston, MA | $68,050 | $89,714 | $122,210 | $145,120 | $168,030 | $80,348 | 6,050 |
| San Diego, CA | $62,380 | $85,512 | $120,210 | $144,780 | $169,350 | $75,037 | 2,280 |
| Raleigh, NC | $65,970 | $83,902 | $110,800 | $140,775 | $170,750 | $111,022 | 1,760 |
| Portland, OR | $56,760 | $77,960 | $109,760 | $152,835 | $195,910 | $84,366 | 1,550 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $70,590 | $85,646 | $108,230 | $134,330 | $160,430 | $115,138 | 230 |
| Richmond, VA | $73,200 | $86,440 | $106,300 | $132,675 | $159,050 | $104,114 | 720 |
| Atlanta, GA | $70,400 | $84,560 | $105,800 | $128,880 | $151,960 | $106,653 | 5,270 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino, CA | $61,110 | $78,954 | $105,720 | $131,490 | $157,260 | $86,373 | 450 |
| Chicago, IL | $67,010 | $82,438 | $105,580 | $129,240 | $152,900 | $98,397 | 5,010 |
| Sacramento, CA | $58,870 | $77,086 | $104,410 | $131,675 | $158,940 | $83,729 | 930 |
| Orlando, FL | $59,190 | $77,214 | $104,250 | $127,295 | $150,340 | $101,115 | 1,940 |
| Dallas, TX | $61,090 | $77,938 | $103,210 | $128,610 | $154,010 | $99,145 | 8,840 |
| Columbus, OH | $64,490 | $79,938 | $103,110 | $119,030 | $134,950 | $110,752 | 780 |
| Austin, TX | $59,900 | $77,168 | $103,070 | $132,695 | $162,320 | $100,068 | 3,340 |
| Providence, RI | $78,870 | $88,422 | $102,750 | $128,015 | $153,280 | $86,055 | 440 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $63,240 | $79,040 | $102,740 | $123,605 | $144,470 | $86,774 | 2,650 |
| Detroit, MI | $64,880 | $79,884 | $102,390 | $119,995 | $137,600 | $107,666 | 2,140 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $66,370 | $80,674 | $102,130 | $120,350 | $138,570 | $96,168 | 2,190 |
| Boise, ID | $47,960 | $69,620 | $102,110 | $189,615 | $277,120 | $100,010 | 360 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $52,070 | $72,078 | $102,090 | $129,815 | $157,540 | $74,247 | 220 |
| Buffalo, NY | $54,990 | $73,746 | $101,880 | $131,430 | $160,980 | $110,141 | 340 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $63,630 | $78,474 | $100,740 | $121,870 | $143,000 | $100,040 | 3,160 |
| Albany, NY | $64,140 | $78,760 | $100,690 | $118,590 | $136,490 | $99,990 | 430 |
| Tucson, AZ | $71,240 | $83,004 | $100,650 | $122,520 | $144,390 | $105,503 | 430 |
| Reno, NV | $59,530 | $75,770 | $100,130 | $115,270 | $130,410 | $94,019 | 160 |
| Miami, FL | $54,410 | $72,666 | $100,050 | $125,220 | $150,390 | $81,275 | 1,960 |
| Omaha, NE | $65,200 | $78,952 | $99,580 | $115,535 | $131,490 | $108,475 | 800 |
| Greensboro, NC | $56,720 | $73,768 | $99,340 | $116,110 | $132,880 | $108,806 | 270 |
| Tampa, FL | $60,010 | $75,554 | $98,870 | $126,010 | $153,150 | $99,267 | 1,930 |
| Houston, TX | $51,800 | $70,556 | $98,690 | $123,025 | $147,360 | $102,269 | 2,420 |
| Des Moines, IA | $62,650 | $76,866 | $98,190 | $113,490 | $128,790 | $105,241 | 440 |
| Rochester, NY | $64,200 | $77,656 | $97,840 | $115,150 | $132,460 | $105,318 | 490 |
| Madison, WI | $64,080 | $77,584 | $97,840 | $131,565 | $165,290 | $94,258 | 1,470 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $61,430 | $75,814 | $97,390 | $123,560 | $149,730 | $99,990 | 790 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $62,250 | $76,162 | $97,030 | $116,055 | $135,080 | $102,029 | 1,060 |
| Greenville, SC | $48,820 | $68,076 | $96,960 | $115,320 | $133,680 | $107,614 | 210 |
| Hartford, CT | $45,950 | $66,034 | $96,160 | $127,685 | $159,210 | $85,400 | 510 |
| San Antonio, TX | $55,800 | $71,876 | $95,990 | $114,930 | $133,870 | $104,907 | 1,010 |
| Spokane, WA | $62,400 | $75,712 | $95,680 | $118,635 | $141,590 | $98,234 | 140 |
| Nashville, TN | $65,450 | $77,382 | $95,280 | $111,035 | $126,790 | $94,995 | 0 |
| Kansas City, MO | $52,650 | $69,578 | $94,970 | $114,630 | $134,290 | $99,549 | 1,430 |
| St. Louis, MO | $59,600 | $73,596 | $94,590 | $132,205 | $169,820 | $105,100 | 1,360 |
| Fresno, CA | $48,480 | $66,828 | $94,350 | $116,350 | $138,350 | $89,431 | 100 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $58,840 | $72,708 | $93,510 | $113,310 | $133,110 | $103,785 | 990 |
| Memphis, TN | $67,670 | $77,018 | $91,040 | $105,820 | $120,600 | $108,381 | 170 |
| Wichita, KS | $61,890 | $73,186 | $90,130 | $113,365 | $136,600 | $107,298 | 130 |
| Tulsa, OK | $45,910 | $63,018 | $88,680 | $105,200 | $121,720 | $102,166 | 270 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $59,010 | $70,582 | $87,940 | $111,215 | $134,490 | $96,425 | 920 |
| Knoxville, TN | $57,820 | $69,080 | $85,970 | $100,335 | $114,700 | $95,205 | 220 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $48,900 | $62,656 | $83,290 | $122,670 | $162,050 | $82,793 | 180 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $46,030 | $60,794 | $82,940 | $108,340 | $133,740 | $81,795 | 1,610 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $56,140 | $66,844 | $82,900 | $104,145 | $125,390 | $89,816 | 830 |
| Birmingham, AL | $54,080 | $65,272 | $82,060 | $106,545 | $131,030 | $90,774 | 360 |
| Charlotte, NC | $64,990 | $71,790 | $81,990 | $107,965 | $133,940 | $84,788 | 3,900 |
| Louisville, KY | $47,190 | $59,930 | $79,040 | $102,575 | $126,110 | $87,627 | 0 |
| Lexington, KY | $47,140 | $59,804 | $78,800 | $100,915 | $123,030 | $86,309 | 0 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $52,390 | $62,514 | $77,700 | $100,890 | $124,080 | $89,827 | 1,120 |
| Little Rock, AR | $50,410 | $59,206 | $72,400 | $90,480 | $108,560 | $82,086 | 280 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
The national median salary for Software Quality Assurance Tester is $101,943 as of 2025. The national mean (average) is $115,948. Salaries range from $72,400 to $166,530 depending on city and cost of living.
Software Quality Assurance Tester salaries vary significantly by metro area. The highest-paying cities offer median salaries well above the national average of $101,943, though cost of living should be factored in. Check the city breakdown table above for COL-adjusted figures.
There are approximately 132,070 Software Quality Assurance Tester positions in the US across 67 metropolitan areas tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Software Quality Assurance Tester positions at the 90th percentile earn significantly more than the median, suggesting strong income growth potential with experience and specialization. The gap between the 10th and 90th percentile indicates the impact that skills, location, and seniority have on compensation.
Salary data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. COL adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parities.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2026.