Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers pay range in Raleigh
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $65,970 a year or less, while the top 10% make $170,750 or more. The middle half of software quality assurance analysts and testers in Raleigh earn between $86,710 and $135,910.
- $66K10th
- $87K25th
- $111KMedian
- $136K75th
- $171K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $115,100 | $9,592 | $55.34 |
| Median | $110,800 | $9,233 | $53.27 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $86,710 | $7,226 | $41.69 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $135,910 | $11,326 | $65.34 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers pay in Raleigh vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Software quality assurance analysts and testers in Raleigh earn 13% more than the North Carolina average ($102,060) and 3% more than the U.S. average ($111,490). At the median the gap is +6% against the U.S. median of $104,300.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh | $115,100 | $110,800 | $65,970 | $170,750 | 1,760 |
| North Carolina | $102,060 | $100,390 | $61,190 | $148,710 | 8,890 |
| United States | $111,490 | $104,300 | $61,440 | $167,010 | 186,740 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers salary after taxes in Raleigh
On the average salary of $115,100, a single filer in Raleigh takes home about $85,719 a year, or $7,143 a month and $3,297 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Raleigh a good place for software quality assurance analysts and testers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Raleigh area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.2), so the average $115,100 buys what about $117,261 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Raleigh ($51,990). A typical home costs $438,364, or 3.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers salary in other North Carolina cities
Raleigh ranks 2nd of 11 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Durham pays the most ($118,510).
- Durham$118,510
- Raleigh$115,100
- Asheville$112,790
- Pinehurst$100,770
- Greensboro$98,780
- Hickory$97,040
- Fayetteville$96,660
- Charlotte$95,350
- Greenville$91,750
- Wilmington$85,420
All Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers salaries in North Carolina
Highest-paying cities for software quality assurance analysts and testers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($160,040).
- San Jose, CA$160,040
- Lexington Park, MD$153,640
- San Francisco, CA$136,630
- Boulder, CO$136,490
- Greeley, CO$135,860
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers salary by city
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Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers salary in Raleigh: questions
How much do software quality assurance analysts and testers make an hour in Raleigh?
$55.34 an hour on average, and $53.27 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level software quality assurance analysts and testers salary in Raleigh?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $65,970 a year and the 25th percentile is $86,710, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the software quality assurance analysts and testers take-home pay in Raleigh?
About $85,719 a year ($7,143 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $115,100.
Do software quality assurance analysts and testers earn more in Raleigh than elsewhere?
The average here is 3% more than the U.S. average for this job ($111,490).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 15-1253; area Raleigh-Cary, NC (39580). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.6%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.97, this job is 2.0 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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