Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers Salary
The median pay for a software quality assurance analysts and testers in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI is $97,390/year ($46.82/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $61K at the entry level to $150K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 96.94), that's roughly $100,464 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,338/month, or 21.7% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $97K get you in Milwaukee-Waukesha?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Milwaukee-Waukesha’s Regional Price Parity (96.94). 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 Milwaukee-Waukesha
Software quality assurance analysts and testers pay in Milwaukee-Waukesha tracks closely to the national median, $97K locally vs. $104K nationwide, a 7% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,338/month, 22.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 96.94) 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 Milwaukee-Waukesha, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Madison | $98K | $101K |
| Green Bay | $92K | $99K |
| La Crosse-Onalaska | $80K | $87K |
| Eau Claire | $96K | $103K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI
Entry-level software quality assurance analysts and testers (10th percentile) start around $61K. Mid-career wages sit at $97K. Top earners bring in $150K or more, a $88K 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 Milwaukee-Waukesha numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a software quality assurance analysts and tester afford a 2BR apartment alone in Milwaukee-Waukesha?
Yes — at the median salary of $97K, rent takes 22.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,338/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 Milwaukee-Waukesha?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new software quality assurance analysts and testers typically earn — is $61K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,686/month. At HUD’s $1,338/month FMR, rent would take 36% 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 Milwaukee-Waukesha?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $97K locally vs. $104K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Milwaukee-Waukesha compare to the national average for software quality assurance analysts and testers?
Milwaukee-Waukesha pays $97K median vs. the U.S. average of $104K — that’s -7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 96.94), the purchasing-power equivalent is $100K — below the national median.
How much do software quality assurance analysts and testers make in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI?
The median is $97,390 a year, that works out to about $47 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $61,430, and experienced software quality assurance analysts and testers can clear $149,730. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $97K enough to live in Milwaukee-Waukesha?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,065/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,338/month, which eats 22.1% 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 Milwaukee-Waukesha?
Milwaukee-Waukesha has a Regional Price Parity of 96.94 (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 $100,464 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.