Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers Salary
The median pay for a software quality assurance analysts and testers in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC is $122,980/year ($59.13/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $65K at the entry level to $167K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.57), that's roughly $126,043 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,711/month, or 22.5% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $123K get you in Durham-Chapel Hill?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Durham-Chapel Hill’s Regional Price Parity (97.57). 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 Durham-Chapel Hill
Durham-Chapel Hill sits well above the national pay line for software quality assurance analysts and testers, local pay runs about 18% higher than the U.S. median of $104K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,711/month, 23% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 97.57) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, Durham-Chapel Hill offers a genuinely strong financial position for software quality assurance analysts and testerss at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for software quality assurance analysts and testers in metros near Durham-Chapel Hill, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $82K | $84K |
| Raleigh-Cary | $111K | $113K |
| Greensboro-High Point | $99K | $107K |
| Winston-Salem | $69K | $75K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Entry-level software quality assurance analysts and testers (10th percentile) start around $65K. Mid-career wages sit at $123K. Top earners bring in $167K or more, a $102K 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 Durham-Chapel Hill numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a software quality assurance analysts and tester afford a 2BR apartment alone in Durham-Chapel Hill?
Yes — at the median salary of $123K, rent takes 23% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,711/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 Durham-Chapel Hill?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new software quality assurance analysts and testers typically earn — is $65K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,917/month. At HUD’s $1,711/month FMR, rent would take 44% 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 Durham-Chapel Hill?
Local pay is 18% above the national median — $123K here vs. $104K nationally.
How does Durham-Chapel Hill compare to the national average for software quality assurance analysts and testers?
Durham-Chapel Hill pays $123K median vs. the U.S. average of $104K — that’s +18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.57), the purchasing-power equivalent is $126K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do software quality assurance analysts and testers make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median is $122,980 a year, that works out to about $59 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $65,280, and experienced software quality assurance analysts and testers can clear $166,820. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $123K enough to live in Durham-Chapel Hill?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,440/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,711/month, which eats 23% 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 Durham-Chapel Hill?
Durham-Chapel Hill has a Regional Price Parity of 97.57 (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 $126,043 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.