Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Bachelor's degree
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These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Software quality assurance analysts and testers focus on ensuring that software meets defined standards before and after it is released. This career combines technology knowledge with critical and analytical thinking, attention to detail, and strong communication skills. Nationally, the occupation employs 202,000 people with a median annual salary of $102,610, indicating significant earning potential across a large workforce. Projected employment growth of 10.0% and 14,000 annual openings suggest that new positions and replacement needs should continue to create opportunities. A bachelor’s degree is the typical education requirement, making this a path that is accessible to many students and career changers willing to complete a four-year program. Key strengths for this career include comfort with computers and information technology, adaptability, and the ability to read, write, speak, and listen effectively. For people who enjoy problem solving, detail-oriented work, and continuous learning, this role offers a solid long-term professional path.
Software quality assurance analysts and testers have a national median annual salary of $102,610, offering strong earning potential. Pay varies meaningfully by location. Among top states, California and Washington both report median salaries around $128,500, while Colorado is close at $123,690. Massachusetts and New York are also high-paying, with median salaries above $121,000. At the metro level, some areas stand out even more. The San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA metro shows a median salary of $166,530, the highest among the listed metros. New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ reports $130,540, and the San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA metro is $134,630. Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WV and Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NH also provide six-figure median salaries. Overall, these figures indicate that location plays a major role in pay, with certain metros and states offering notably higher compensation than the national median.
This occupation shows a combination of sizable current employment and notable projected growth. National employment stands at 202,000, providing a large base of existing roles across the country. Projected employment growth of 10.0% indicates that the total number of positions is expected to increase over time. In addition to growth, there are 14,000 annual openings, which reflect both newly created jobs and opportunities from workers changing roles or leaving the workforce. This combination of growth and ongoing openings suggests that people entering or advancing in this field can expect a consistent flow of opportunities rather than relying solely on new job creation. The same 10.0% projected growth also appears in the listed top states and metro areas, suggesting relatively aligned expectations across several key regions. For students and job seekers planning ahead, these indicators point to a career with substantial existing employment and continued demand.
Geography makes a clear difference for software quality assurance analysts and testers. At the state level, California has the highest employment among the listed states with 27,710 workers, along with a median salary of $128,740 and the top opportunity score of 67.38. New York and Washington also show meaningful employment (10,460 and 7,970) and strong median salaries above $121,000. Massachusetts and Colorado combine smaller employment bases (6,640 and 5,110) with high median pay and solid opportunity scores. Among metro areas, San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA stands out with an opportunity score of 77.42, a median salary of $166,530, and 6,480 employed. The New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ metro has the highest employment among metros at 11,460 and an opportunity score of 77.27. San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA, Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WV, and Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NH round out the top metros, each offering six-figure median salaries and opportunity scores above 63, indicating a range of strong regional options.
The typical education requirement for software quality assurance analysts and testers is a bachelor’s degree. This means most people enter the field after completing a four-year degree program. Success in this career also depends on a mix of technical and transferable skills. Key strengths include computers and information technology, mathematics, and science, which support the more technical aspects of the work. Critical and analytical thinking, along with being detail oriented, help professionals evaluate complex information and identify issues. Strong writing and reading skills are important for documenting findings and understanding specifications, while speaking and listening support collaboration with colleagues. Creativity and innovation contribute to developing new approaches, and adaptability helps professionals respond to changing conditions. Leadership ability can be valuable for those who move into senior or supervisory roles. Together, this blend of education and skills creates a foundation for long-term growth and advancement in the occupation.
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