Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers Salary
The median pay for a software quality assurance analysts and testers in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA is $101,510/year ($48.8/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $64K at the entry level to $132K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.71), which stretches that salary to about $109,492 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,271/month, or 19.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Where the paycheck goes
What $102K actually covers in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, month by month
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford’s Regional Price Parity (92.71). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About software quality assurance analysts and testers
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What this looks like in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford
Software quality assurance analysts and testers pay in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford tracks closely to the national median, $102K locally vs. $104K nationwide, a 3% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,271/month, 20.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.71 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for software quality assurance analysts and testers in metros near Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Richmond | $106K | $109K |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $106K | $108K |
| Charlottesville | $111K | $112K |
| Roanoke | $100K | $106K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA
Entry-level software quality assurance analysts and testers (10th percentile) start around $64K. Mid-career wages sit at $102K. Top earners bring in $132K or more, a $68K spread from bottom to top.
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $129K | +23% | 27,710 |
| Washington | $128K | +23% | 7,970 |
| Colorado | $124K | +19% | 5,110 |
| Massachusetts | $122K | +17% | 6,640 |
| Virginia | $122K | +17% | 10,160 |
| New York | $121K | +16% | 10,460 |
| New Jersey | $119K | +15% | 6,550 |
| New Mexico | $117K | +12% | 450 |
| Maryland | $111K | +7% | 5,880 |
| Oregon | $108K | +4% | 1,840 |
| New Hampshire | $107K | +3% | 770 |
| Delaware | $106K | +2% | 520 |
| Illinois | $105K | +1% | 6,530 |
| Montana | $104K | -0% | 150 |
| District of Columbia | $103K | -1% | 760 |
| Georgia | $103K | -1% | 7,110 |
| Hawaii | $103K | -1% | N/A |
| Texas | $102K | -2% | 19,590 |
| Rhode Island | $102K | -2% | 400 |
| Minnesota | $102K | -2% | 2,630 |
| Alabama | $102K | -3% | 1,760 |
| Arizona | $101K | -3% | 3,890 |
| North Carolina | $100K | -4% | 8,890 |
| Florida | $100K | -4% | 10,320 |
| Michigan | $99K | -5% | 3,480 |
| Nebraska | $98K | -6% | 1,240 |
| Ohio | $98K | -6% | 4,400 |
| Connecticut | $98K | -6% | 1,160 |
| South Carolina | $98K | -7% | 1,740 |
| Kansas | $94K | -9% | 1,140 |
| Pennsylvania | $93K | -11% | 4,530 |
| Tennessee | $91K | -13% | 1,530 |
| Wisconsin | $89K | -14% | 3,800 |
| Iowa | $89K | -15% | 1,000 |
| Indiana | $87K | -17% | 1,610 |
| Maine | $86K | -17% | 390 |
| Missouri | $86K | -18% | 2,930 |
| North Dakota | $84K | -20% | 200 |
| Utah | $82K | -21% | 2,600 |
| Mississippi | $80K | -23% | 350 |
| Kentucky | $79K | -24% | 890 |
| Oklahoma | $78K | -26% | 1,620 |
| Vermont | $77K | -27% | 170 |
| South Dakota | $68K | -35% | 220 |
| Louisiana | $67K | -36% | 450 |
| West Virginia | $62K | -40% | 390 |
Showing 1–10 of 46 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track software quality assurance analysts and testers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a software quality assurance analysts and tester afford a 2BR apartment alone in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford?
Yes — at the median salary of $102K, rent takes 20.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,271/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for software quality assurance analysts and testers in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new software quality assurance analysts and testers typically earn — is $64K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,197/month. At HUD’s $1,271/month FMR, rent would take 30% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is software quality assurance analysts and tester a high-paying job in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $102K locally vs. $104K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford compare to the national average for software quality assurance analysts and testers?
Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford pays $102K median vs. the U.S. average of $104K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.71), the purchasing-power equivalent is $109K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do software quality assurance analysts and testers make in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA?
The median is $101,510 a year, that works out to about $49 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $64,190, and experienced software quality assurance analysts and testers can clear $131,780. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $102K enough to live in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,206/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,271/month, which eats 20.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a software quality assurance analysts and testers salary go in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford?
Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford has a Regional Price Parity of 92.71 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median software quality assurance analysts and testers salary is worth about $109,492 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do software quality assurance analysts and testers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.