Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers Salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
The median pay for a software quality assurance analysts and testers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $102,360/year ($49.21/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $64K at the entry level to $139K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.59), that's roughly $98,813 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,781/month, or 27.5% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $102K get you in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Chicago-Naperville-Elgin’s Regional Price Parity (103.59). 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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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Entry-level software quality assurance analysts and testers (10th percentile) start around $64K. Mid-career wages sit at $102K. Top earners bring in $139K or more, a $75K 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
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $128K | +25% | 9,220 |
| California | $127K | +24% | 31,530 |
| Virginia | $123K | +20% | 9,880 |
| Maryland | $122K | +19% | 6,340 |
| New Jersey | $112K | +9% | 6,930 |
| District of Columbia | $110K | +7% | 750 |
| New Hampshire | $110K | +7% | 610 |
| New York | $109K | +6% | 11,140 |
| Utah | $107K | +4% | 4,300 |
| Massachusetts | $106K | +3% | 7,650 |
| Delaware | $106K | +3% | 700 |
| New Mexico | $106K | +3% | 400 |
| Minnesota | $105K | +2% | 2,930 |
| Arizona | $104K | +1% | 3,680 |
| Alaska | $103K | +1% | N/A |
| Oregon | $103K | +0% | 3,010 |
| North Carolina | $103K | +0% | 7,280 |
| Texas | $102K | -1% | 19,300 |
| Connecticut | $101K | -1% | 1,200 |
| Montana | $101K | -2% | 260 |
| Illinois | $100K | -2% | 6,800 |
| Hawaii | $100K | -3% | 210 |
| Alabama | $100K | -3% | 1,910 |
| Michigan | $98K | -4% | 3,500 |
| Florida | $97K | -6% | 12,080 |
| Rhode Island | $95K | -7% | 440 |
| Pennsylvania | $94K | -9% | 5,690 |
| Georgia | $94K | -9% | 7,830 |
| South Carolina | $93K | -9% | 1,320 |
| Nevada | $92K | -10% | 680 |
| Nebraska | $90K | -12% | 1,680 |
| Tennessee | $90K | -12% | 2,290 |
| Indiana | $89K | -13% | 1,630 |
| Iowa | $86K | -17% | 1,080 |
| Ohio | $84K | -18% | 4,000 |
| Kansas | $83K | -19% | 1,320 |
| Wisconsin | $82K | -20% | 3,820 |
| North Dakota | $82K | -20% | 470 |
| Kentucky | $79K | -23% | 1,140 |
| Maine | $79K | -23% | 390 |
| Vermont | $77K | -25% | 130 |
| Missouri | $76K | -26% | 2,400 |
| Mississippi | $76K | -26% | 460 |
| Idaho | $73K | -29% | 490 |
| Oklahoma | $69K | -33% | 1,720 |
| South Dakota | $62K | -40% | 350 |
| West Virginia | $61K | -40% | 260 |
| Louisiana | $50K | -51% | 540 |
Showing 1–10 of 48 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track software quality assurance analysts and testers salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
How much do software quality assurance analysts and testers make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median is $102,360 a year, that works out to about $49 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $64,010, and experienced software quality assurance analysts and testers can clear $138,630. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $102K enough to live in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,278/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,781/month, which eats 28.4% 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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin has a Regional Price Parity of 103.59 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median software quality assurance analysts and testers salary is worth about $98,813 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.