Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers
SOC 15-1253 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers is $101,800, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $108,460, and an estimated 203,040 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2021 and 2023, pay rose +3.6% while consumer prices rose 12.4% — a real change of -7.8% (pay did not keep up with inflation). BLS projects employment will grow 10% between 2024 and 2034.
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $101,800 | $101,800 | 203,040 |
| 2022 | $99,620 | $103,721 | 196,420 |
| 2021 | $98,220 | $110,447 | 190,120 |
Nominal change
+3.6%
Inflation (CPI)
+12.4%
Real change
-7.8%
Job Outlook (2024–2034 BLS projection)
The BLS Employment Projections program estimates how each occupation's employment will change over the coming decade, and how many job openings to expect each year (from both growth and the need to replace workers who leave).
Projected Growth
+10%
Much faster than average
Employment 2024
201,700
Projected 2034
221,900
Annual Openings
14,000
Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $101,800. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $129,400 | +27.1% | 32,940 |
| Washington | $122,480 | +20.3% | 10,840 |
| District of Columbia | $121,970 | +19.8% | 690 |
| Massachusetts | $121,320 | +19.2% | 6,400 |
| Hawaii | $116,460 | +14.4% | — |
| Colorado | $115,940 | +13.9% | 6,430 |
| Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $113,620 | +11.6% | 50 |
| Maryland | $113,330 | +11.3% | 7,440 |
| New York | $111,750 | +9.8% | 11,750 |
| Virginia | $110,110 | +8.2% | 9,120 |
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$58,740
25th Pct
$78,470
Median
$101,800
75th Pct
$130,630
90th Pct
$164,520
H-1B Employer Filings
Employer-certified wages from DOL H-1B LCA filings — competitive market benchmark, not approved visas.
| Employer | State | Filings | Median Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Inc. | CA | 32 | $197,025 |
| AMAZON.COM SERVICES LLC | CA | 31 | $161,600 |
| COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS US CORP | TX | 31 | $95,701 |
| COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS US CORP | CA | 29 | $112,299 |
| COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS US CORP | NC | 29 | $91,978 |
| AMAZON.COM SERVICES LLC | WA | 25 | $145,100 |
| INFOSYS LIMITED | TX | 21 | $87,290 |
| COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS US CORP | NJ | 21 | $99,549 |
| COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS US CORP | CT | 20 | $72,862 |
| Capgemini America, Inc. | IL | 19 | $132,000 |
| CAPGEMINI AMERICA INC | GA | 19 | $122,000 |
| INFOSYS LIMITED | CA | 17 | $112,310 |
| COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS US CORP | PA | 16 | $80,475 |
| COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS US CORP | IL | 15 | $82,202 |
| TATA CONSULTANCY SERVICES LIMITED | TX | 14 | $98,714 |
| BEST BUY CO., INC. | MN | 14 | $136,372 |
| COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS US CORP | GA | 14 | $85,925 |
| Synechron, Inc. | NC | 14 | $108,150 |
| INFOSYS LIMITED | NC | 14 | $88,083 |
| INFOSYS LIMITED | IL | 13 | $87,262 |
Source: DOL Office of Foreign Labor Certification, H-1B LCA data.
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