Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers salary in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median of $126,350 a year ($60.74 an hour), based on BLS data for 8,460 workers.
Pay ranges from $81,360 for the lowest-paid 10% to $175,240 for the top 10%. That is 21% higher than the national median of $104,300. Pay here is 22% higher than the District of Columbia statewide median of $103,340. There are 2.7 software quality assurance analysts and testers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $126,100, close to the median.
Pay range for software quality assurance analysts and testers in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $81,360 | $39.12 |
| 25th percentile | $99,410 | $47.79 |
| Median | $126,350 | $60.74 |
| 75th percentile | $149,370 | $71.81 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $175,240 | $84.25 |
| Average (mean) | $126,100 | $60.63 |
Half of software quality assurance analysts and testers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $10,529.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,264.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,859.62 |
| Weekly | $2,429.81 |
| Hourly | $60.74 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $126,350 salary, see how much house you can afford in District of Columbia at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Lexington Park, MD | $147,520 | 400 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $129,880 | 2,670 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $111,060 | 130 |
| Richmond, VA | $106,300 | 720 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $105,970 | 720 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $102,740 | 2,650 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $102,250 | 50 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $101,510 | 60 |
| Roanoke, VA | $99,600 | 80 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $85,910 | 40 |
| Charleston, WV | $62,300 | n/a |
| Morgantown, WV | $39,060 | 50 |
Highest-paying states for software quality assurance analysts and testers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $128,740 |
| Washington | $128,480 |
| Colorado | $123,690 |
| Massachusetts | $122,210 |
| Virginia | $121,590 |
| New York | $121,240 |
| New Jersey | $119,470 |
| New Mexico | $116,580 |
| Maryland | $111,100 |
| Oregon | $108,440 |
See Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers pay in every state or the District of Columbia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | $154,930 | $74.49 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $127,040 | $61.08 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $77,860 | $37.43 |
| Information Security Analyst | $148,950 | $71.61 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $125,430 | $60.30 |
| Computer Network Architect | $159,820 | $76.84 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $92,400 | $44.42 |
| Database Architect | $162,870 | $78.30 |
| Web Developer | $134,350 | $64.59 |
| Database Administrator | $108,750 | $52.29 |
| Computer and Information Research Scientists | $161,090 | $77.45 |
| Computer Programmer | $130,390 | $62.69 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $97,000 | $46.63 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $156,640 | $75.31 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 15-1253. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a software quality assurance analysts and testers make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median salary for software quality assurance analysts and testers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $126,350 a year, or $60.74 an hour. Pay ranges from $81,360 for the lowest-paid 10% to $175,240 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid software quality assurance analysts and testers make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The top 10% of software quality assurance analysts and testers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn at least $175,240 a year. The top 25% earn $149,370 or more.
What is the starting pay for software quality assurance analysts and testers in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $81,360 a year, and a quarter of software quality assurance analysts and testers earn $99,410 or less.
How many software quality assurance analysts and testers work in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
About 8,460 software quality assurance analysts and testers are employed in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, not counting the self-employed.