Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers Salary
The median pay for a software quality assurance analysts and testers in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY is $101,880/year ($48.98/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $55K at the entry level to $161K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 95.84), that's roughly $106,302 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,343/month, or 21.4% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $102K get you in Buffalo-Cheektowaga?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Buffalo-Cheektowaga’s Regional Price Parity (95.84). 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 Buffalo-Cheektowaga
Software quality assurance analysts and testers pay in Buffalo-Cheektowaga tracks closely to the national median, $102K locally vs. $104K nationwide, a 2% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,343/month, 21.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 95.84) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. 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 Buffalo-Cheektowaga, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City | $131K | $116K |
| Rochester | $98K | $101K |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy | $101K | $101K |
| Syracuse | $98K | $102K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY
Entry-level software quality assurance analysts and testers (10th percentile) start around $55K. Mid-career wages sit at $102K. Top earners bring in $161K or more, a $106K 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 Buffalo-Cheektowaga numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a software quality assurance analysts and tester afford a 2BR apartment alone in Buffalo-Cheektowaga?
Yes — at the median salary of $102K, rent takes 21.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,343/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 Buffalo-Cheektowaga?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new software quality assurance analysts and testers typically earn — is $55K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,299/month. At HUD’s $1,343/month FMR, rent would take 41% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is software quality assurance analysts and tester a high-paying job in Buffalo-Cheektowaga?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $102K locally vs. $104K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Buffalo-Cheektowaga compare to the national average for software quality assurance analysts and testers?
Buffalo-Cheektowaga pays $102K median vs. the U.S. average of $104K — that’s -2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 95.84), the purchasing-power equivalent is $106K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do software quality assurance analysts and testers make in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY?
The median is $101,880 a year, that works out to about $49 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $54,990, and experienced software quality assurance analysts and testers can clear $160,980. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $102K enough to live in Buffalo-Cheektowaga?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,249/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,343/month, which eats 21.5% 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 Buffalo-Cheektowaga?
Buffalo-Cheektowaga has a Regional Price Parity of 95.84 (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 $106,302 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.