Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers Salary
The median pay for a software quality assurance analysts and testers in South Dakota is $68,120/year ($32.75/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $48K at the entry level to $105K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $75,782 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,017/month, or 21.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across South Dakota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $68K get you in South Dakota?
About software quality assurance analysts and testers
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What this looks like in South Dakota
Pay for software quality assurance analysts and testers in South Dakota runs about 35% below the U.S. median of $104K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,017/month, 21.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, South Dakota can be a reasonable trade-off for software quality assurance analysts and testerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Dakota
Entry-level software quality assurance analysts and testers (10th percentile) start around $48K. Mid-career wages sit at $68K. Top earners bring in $105K or more, a $57K spread from bottom to top.
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers salary by metro in South Dakota
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls | $70K | +3% | 160 |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when South Dakota numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a software quality assurance analysts and tester afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $68K, rent takes 21.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,017/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 South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new software quality assurance analysts and testers typically earn — is $48K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,860/month. At HUD’s $1,017/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 South Dakota?
Local pay runs 35% below the national median — $68K here vs. $104K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does South Dakota compare to the national average for software quality assurance analysts and testers?
South Dakota pays $68K median vs. the U.S. average of $104K — that’s -35%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $76K — below the national median.
How much do software quality assurance analysts and testers make in South Dakota?
The median is $68,120 a year, that works out to about $33 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,670, and experienced software quality assurance analysts and testers can clear $104,840. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $68K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,692/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 21.7% 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 South Dakota?
South Dakota has a Regional Price Parity of 89.89 (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 $75,782 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.