Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers Salary
The median pay for a software quality assurance analysts and testers in Iowa City, IA is $75,330/year ($36.22/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $51K at the entry level to $123K for experienced workers.
So what does $75K get you in Iowa City?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Iowa City’s Regional Price Parity (91.5). 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 Iowa City
Pay for software quality assurance analysts and testers in Iowa City runs about 28% below the U.S. median of $104K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $923/month, 19.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.5 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Iowa City can be a reasonable trade-off for software quality assurance analysts and testerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for software quality assurance analysts and testers in metros near Iowa City, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $98K | , |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $108K | , |
| Cedar Rapids | $84K | , |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $85K | , |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa City, IA
Entry-level software quality assurance analysts and testers (10th percentile) start around $51K. Mid-career wages sit at $75K. Top earners bring in $123K or more, a $71K 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
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 Iowa City numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a software quality assurance analysts and tester afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa City?
Yes — at the median salary of $75K, rent takes 19.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $923/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 Iowa City?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new software quality assurance analysts and testers typically earn — is $51K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,084/month. At HUD’s $923/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 Iowa City?
Local pay runs 28% below the national median — $75K here vs. $104K nationally. Cost of living is 9% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Iowa City compare to the national average for software quality assurance analysts and testers?
Iowa City pays $75K median vs. the U.S. average of $104K — that’s -28%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.5), the purchasing-power equivalent is $82K — below the national median.
How much do software quality assurance analysts and testers make in Iowa City, IA?
The median is $75,330 a year, that works out to about $36 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $51,400, and experienced software quality assurance analysts and testers can clear $122,700. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $75K enough to live in Iowa City?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,793/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $923/month, which eats 19.3% 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 Iowa City?
Iowa City has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median software quality assurance analysts and testers salary is worth about $82,328 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.