Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers Salary
The median pay for a software quality assurance analysts and testers in Kennewick-Richland, WA is $128,860/year ($61.95/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $77K at the entry level to $198K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.08), that's roughly $128,757 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,538/month, or 18.5% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $129K get you in Kennewick-Richland?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Kennewick-Richland’s Regional Price Parity (100.08). 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 Kennewick-Richland
Kennewick-Richland sits well above the national pay line for software quality assurance analysts and testers, local pay runs about 24% higher than the U.S. median of $104K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,538/month, 18.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 100.08) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, Kennewick-Richland 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 Kennewick-Richland, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $130K | $117K |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater | $107K | $103K |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | $96K | $95K |
| Bellingham | $103K | $100K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Kennewick-Richland, WA
Entry-level software quality assurance analysts and testers (10th percentile) start around $77K. Mid-career wages sit at $129K. Top earners bring in $198K or more, a $121K 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
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Frequently asked questions
Can a software quality assurance analysts and tester afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kennewick-Richland?
Yes — at the median salary of $129K, rent takes 18.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,538/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 Kennewick-Richland?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new software quality assurance analysts and testers typically earn — is $77K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,613/month. At HUD’s $1,538/month FMR, rent would take 33% 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 Kennewick-Richland?
Local pay is 24% above the national median — $129K here vs. $104K nationally.
How does Kennewick-Richland compare to the national average for software quality assurance analysts and testers?
Kennewick-Richland pays $129K median vs. the U.S. average of $104K — that’s +24%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.08), the purchasing-power equivalent is $129K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do software quality assurance analysts and testers make in Kennewick-Richland, WA?
The median is $128,860 a year, that works out to about $62 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $76,880, and experienced software quality assurance analysts and testers can clear $197,780. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $129K enough to live in Kennewick-Richland?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,236/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,538/month, which eats 18.7% 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 Kennewick-Richland?
Kennewick-Richland has a Regional Price Parity of 100.08 (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 $128,757 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.
