State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
QA Analyst Salary (2026): Data, Outlook & How to Become One
The median pay for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers is $104,300 a year ($50.14/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 10.0% through 2034, with about 14,000 openings a year (BLS EP, 2024–2034). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
SOC 15-1253Computer and MathematicalLast updated August 15, 2026
- Median pay
- $104,300
- Projected growth
- +10.0%
- Openings a year
- 14,000
- Typical education
- Bachelor's
BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
Also advertised as: Automation Tester, Information Technology Analyst (IT Analyst), Quality Assurance Analyst (QA Analyst), Quality Assurance Engineer (QA Engineer), Quality Engineer, Software Quality Assurance Analyst (SQA Analyst).
How much do Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers make?
10th percentile$61,440
Entry / lowest-paid tenth
25th percentile$80,310
Lower quartile
Median (50th)$104,300
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile$133,180
Upper quartile
90th percentile$167,010
Top-paid tenth
| Median annual wage | $104,300 |
|---|---|
| Median hourly wage | $50.14/hr |
| Mean annual wage | $111,490 |
| People employed | 186,740 |
Versus all US occupations
At $104,300, Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers earn 105% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $53,320 a year.
Versus computer and mathematical occupations
Inside the Computer and Mathematical group, where the middle occupation pays $116,580, this is 11% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $167,010 or more while the bottom 10% earn $61,440, a gap of 2.7×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 82% of the 923 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
California posts the highest raw median ($128,740), but once local prices are taken into account New Mexico leads at $126,426 in national-average dollars.
Which states pay Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers the most?
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $128,740 | $116,275 | 27,710 |
| Washington | $128,480 | $120,060 | 7,970 |
| Colorado | $123,690 | $120,027 | 5,110 |
| Massachusetts | $122,210 | $115,557 | 6,640 |
| Virginia | $121,590 | $120,262 | 10,160 |
| New York | $121,240 | $112,341 | 10,460 |
| New Jersey | $119,470 | $109,802 | 6,550 |
| New Mexico | $116,580 | $126,426 | 450 |
| Maryland | $111,100 | $105,851 | 5,880 |
| Oregon | $108,440 | $104,914 | 1,840 |
Is QA Analyst a growing career?
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers10.0%
All US occupations3.1%
+10.0% projected growth vs 3.1% for all occupations.
Much faster than average
BLS projects employment of Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers to change 10.0% over 2024–2034, roughly 3.2× the 3.1% projected for all occupations. That is 20,200 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 14,000 openings are projected each year, 6.9% of the 201,700 jobs that existed in 2024. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of software developers, quality assurance analysts, and testers is projected to grow 15 percent from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Demand for software developers, software quality assurance analysts, and testers is projected to be strong due to the continued expansion of software development for artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, and other automation applications.
In response to concerns over threats to computer security, organizations are expected to increase investment in software that protects their electronic networks and infrastructure. This investment could result in an increased demand for developers to create security software and for quality assurance analysts and testers to create and execute software tests.
How to become a QA Analyst
Software developers, quality assurance analysts, and testers typically need a bachelor’s degree in computer and information technology or a related field. Some employers prefer to hire developers who have a master’s degree.
| Typical entry-level education | Bachelor's degree |
|---|---|
| Preparation needed (O*NET job zone) | Medium preparation |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | None |
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as software quality assurance analysts and testers.
- Bachelor's Degree50.0%
- Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)26.5%
- Post-Secondary Certificate8.8%
- Some College Courses8.8%
- High School Diploma2.9%
What does a QA Analyst do?
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.
Software developers create the computer applications that allow users to do specific tasks and the underlying systems that run the devices or control networks. Software quality assurance analysts and testers design and execute software tests to identify problems and learn how the software works.
Day-to-day tasks
- Identify, analyze, and document problems with program function, output, online screen, or content.
- Document software defects, using a bug tracking system, and report defects to software developers.
- Design test plans, scenarios, scripts, or procedures.
- Document test procedures to ensure replicability and compliance with standards.
- Install, maintain, or use software testing programs.
- Create or maintain databases of known test defects.
- Monitor bug resolution efforts and track successes.
- Plan test schedules or strategies in accordance with project scope or delivery dates.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Where software quality assurance analysts and testers work
| Computer systems design and related services | 30% |
|---|---|
| Finance and insurance | 10% |
| Software publishers | 9% |
| Manufacturing | 8% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 5% |
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition.
Core skills
- Reading Comprehension4.0/5
- Active Listening3.9/5
- Speaking3.9/5
- Critical Thinking3.9/5
- Writing3.8/5
- Monitoring3.6/5
- Active Learning3.1/5
- Learning Strategies2.9/5
Transferable skills
- Programming3.6/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.4/5
- Quality Control Analysis3.4/5
- Systems Evaluation3.3/5
- Operations Analysis3.1/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.1/5
- Systems Analysis3.1/5
- Coordination3.0/5
Tools and software
- Analytical or scientific software · in demand
- Application server software · in demand
- Business intelligence and data analysis software · in demand
- Cloud-based data access and sharing software · in demand
- Cloud-based management software · in demand
- Computer aided design CAD software · in demand
- Configuration management software · in demand
- Customer relationship management CRM software · in demand
- Data base management system software · in demand
- Data base reporting software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Data mining software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
What personality type suits a QA Analyst?
Interest profile: O*NET Occupational Interests, scored 1–7
Realisticprimary3.8
Investigativeprimary5.8
Artistic1.7
Social1.5
Enterprising1.6
Conventionalprimary5.7
Day to day this is work built around investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
QA Analyst: frequently asked questions
How much do Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers make?
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers earn a median of $104,300 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 105% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $50.14/hr. The middle half earn between $80,310 and $133,180. The top 10% earn $167,010 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a QA Analyst?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as medium preparation. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 50.0% hold bachelor's degree.
Is QA Analyst a growing career?
Yes, strongly. Employment is projected to grow 10.0% over 2024–2034, more than double the 3.1% projected for all occupations (BLS EP, 2024–2034). BLS still projects about 14,000 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a QA Analyst do?
Software developers create the computer applications that allow users to do specific tasks and the underlying systems that run the devices or control networks. A core O*NET task: identify, analyze, and document problems with program function, output, online screen, or content. Employers most often ask for Analytical or scientific software, Application server software, Business intelligence and data analysis software.
Which states pay Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers the most?
The highest state medians for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers are California ($128,740), Washington ($128,480), Colorado ($123,690) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, New Mexico moves to the top at $126,426.
What personality type suits a QA Analyst?
O*NET scores Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers highest on the Investigative, Conventional and Realistic interest areas, so the work mixes investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 923 occupations in the bank.