Computer and Mathematical Occupations
BLS May 2025 wages Wide pay band SOC 15-1253

Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers

The published band from $61,440 to $167,010 is the distinctive signal for this role, not a twin of Computer and Information Research Scientists.

Full salary details → About this data

Same-major-group titles next to Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers: Computer and Information Research Scientists ($140K) , Web Developers ($93K) , Database Administrators ($105K) , Computer Programmers ($100K) . Hash-ordered per card so residual SOC siblings do not share an identical peer sentence.

What Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers publish as work

O*NET task statements for SOC 15-1253 - occupation-level descriptions, not every employer's posting. Sibling cards diverge here because the task set is entity-keyed.

  1. 1. Identify, analyze, and document problems with program function, output, online screen, or content
  2. 2. Document software defects, using a bug tracking system, and report defects to software developers
  3. 3. Develop testing programs that address areas such as database impacts, software scenarios, regression testing, negative testing, error or…
  4. 4. Design test plans, scenarios, scripts, or procedures
  5. 5. Document test procedures to ensure replicability and compliance with standards
  6. 6. Provide feedback and recommendations to developers on software usability and functionality
  7. 7. Install, maintain, or use software testing programs
  8. 8. Test system modifications to prepare for implementation
  9. 9. Create or maintain databases of known test defects
  10. 10. Develop or specify standards, methods, or procedures to determine product quality or release readiness
  11. 11. Monitor bug resolution efforts and track successes
  12. 12. Update automated test scripts to ensure currency

Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers: O*NET ranks Reading Comprehension first

Importance-ranked O*NET profile for SOC 15-1253 - lead skill Reading Comprehension at 4.0 ; lead knowledge Computers and Electronics. Sibling cards diverge here even when peer titles overlap.

Top skills

  1. 1. Reading Comprehension 4.0
  2. 2. Active Listening 3.9
  3. 3. Speaking 3.9
  4. 4. Critical Thinking 3.9
  5. 5. Writing 3.8
  6. 6. Monitoring 3.6
  7. 7. Programming 3.6
  8. 8. Complex Problem Solving 3.4

Knowledge areas

  1. 1. Computers and Electronics 4.4
  2. 2. English Language 3.8
  3. 3. Mathematics 3.3
  4. 4. Engineering and Technology 3.3
  5. 5. Design 3.0
  6. 6. Education and Training 2.9
Published pay band (10th to 90th)
$61,440 to $167,010
median $104,300 · ~2.7× spread
$104K
National median
↑ +10%
Growth 2024-2034
14,000
Annual openings
186,740
Estimated US jobs
Computer and Information Research Scientists
Highest-pay peer · $140K

Typical Entry and Preparation Assignments

Entry education Bachelor's degree

Top Paying States for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers

1. New York $121,240
2. Virginia $121,590
3. Massachusetts $122,210
4. Oregon $108,440
5. Colorado $123,690
6. California $128,740
7. New Jersey $119,470
8. New Mexico $116,580
9. Washington $128,480
10. Maryland $111,100

Other Computer and Mathematical Occupations titles

  1. 1. Database Administrators $104,620
  2. 2. Computer Programmers $100,390
  3. 3. Computer and Information Research Scientists $140,300
  4. 4. Mathematicians $126,710
  5. 5. Web Developers $92,650
  6. 6. Actuaries $130,000

The OEWS band for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers runs from $61,440 (10th) to $167,010 (90th), about 2.7× wide, with median $104,300. That spread, not the midpoint alone, is the distinctive published fact.

Employment Projections expect +10% change between 2024 and 2034 (much faster than average vs baseline 3.1%). About 14,000 annual openings are projected. BLS assigns Bachelor's degree as typical education needed for entry. These are occupation-level assignments, not universal requirements. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific safety rate for this role; its broad SOC-group rate is excluded from this career card's grade.

Highest published state median in this ranking: New York at $121,240. The table records differences without proving causes. Highest-pay peer shown here: Computer and Information Research Scientists at $140,300. Compare the same statistic in the relevant local wage area before treating the national median as a personal benchmark; OEWS excludes employer benefits.

Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers pay-rank #13 in Computer and Mathematical Occupations

Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers sits at pay-rank #13 of 21 detailed Computer and Mathematical Occupations, the middle third of the major-group median table. ROW_NUMBER on median; title breaks ties.

Other mid-table titles · closest medians

Full Salary Details Compare this role

Data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024-2034.

SOC 15-1253 · national median $104,300 · middle third of Computer and Mathematical Occupations (#13/21). Open the full OEWS map or a named state before treating the card median as a local ask.

Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers salary map

State, metro, and percentile for SOC 15-1253

New York · top state for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers

$121K published median

Virginia · #2 state pay

$122K · behind New York

Computer and Information Research Scientists

Highest-pay peer vs Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers · $140K

Web Developers

Lower-pay peer beside Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers · $93K

Compare Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers

Head-to-head OEWS medians with another SOC
Compare Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers with another occupation →

Pay-band next reads

Entry-Level vs Experienced Pay

What percentile bands reveal

Using Salary Data for Negotiation

Leverage BLS percentiles

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers mid-table among Computer and Mathematical Occupations? ▼
Yes: pay-rank #13 of 21 detailed Computer and Mathematical Occupations, the middle third. Mid-table neighbors: Web and Digital Interface Designers ($104K), Database Administrators ($105K), Statisticians ($106K), Computer Systems Analysts ($106K). ROW_NUMBER on median; title breaks ties.
What do software quality assurance analysts and testers do day to day? ▼
O*NET lists published task statements for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers. Leading ones include: 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; Develop testing programs that address areas such as database impacts, software scenarios, regression testing, negative testing, error or…; Design test plans, scenarios, scripts, or procedures. These are occupation-level task descriptions, not every employer's job description.
Which O*NET skills rank highest for software quality assurance analysts and testers? ▼
For SOC 15-1253, O*NET importance scores lead with Reading Comprehension (4.0), Active Listening (3.9), Speaking (3.9), Critical Thinking (3.9). Knowledge areas emphasize Computers and Electronics, English Language, Mathematics. These are occupation-level profiles, not a hiring checklist for every employer.
How wide is the published pay band for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers? ▼
OEWS places the 10th percentile at $61,440 and the 90th at $167,010 for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers (2.7× spread). The national median is $104,300. OEWS does not isolate experience, employer, or geography as the cause of that spread.
What employment change does BLS publish for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers? ▼
The 2024-2034 projection for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers is +10%. Projected annual openings: about 14,000. Relative to the current all-occupations baseline of 3.1%: much faster than average.
What typical entry education does BLS assign to Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers? ▼
BLS assigns Bachelor's degree as the typical-education-needed-for-entry category for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers. These are occupation-level labels, not every employer's hiring rule.
Which three states show the highest OEWS medians for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers? ▼
New York ($121,240), Virginia ($121,590), Massachusetts ($122,210) lead this ranking. The table does not identify why those state estimates differ.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Wage and state figures use BLS OEWS May 2025; growth and education use BLS Employment Projections for 2024-2034; safety fields cite BLS CFOI/SOII; task statements cite O*NET where shown. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

Disclaimer: Wage and outlook figures on this page are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute career, financial, or salary-negotiation advice. Actual pay varies by employer, experience, and local conditions; consult a career counselor or the hiring employer for guidance specific to your situation.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OES Occupational wage estimates by area and industry · 2025

Federal sources on this Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers card
  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS / OES) - national median and percentiles for SOC 15-1253. bls.gov/oes
  • O*NET OnLine - task and skill statements for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers. onetcenter.org
  • BLS Employment Projections - 2024-2034 change and openings for this occupation. bls.gov/emp
  • U.S. Census Bureau ACS - demographic and labor-force context for state and metro geography. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
  • IRS Statistics of Income (SOI) - payroll-tax aggregate context for wage comparisons. irs.gov/statistics