Software QA Engineer Salary by State (2024)
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 48 states compared · Updated: 2026-03-31
Software QA Engineer Salary in All 50 States
Compare Software QA Engineer pay across the country. Click any state for the full salary breakdown including percentiles, employment numbers, and related jobs.
| State | Median Salary | Mean Salary | Entry Level | Top Earners | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $128,270 | $130,110 | $68,110 | $191,040 | 9,220 |
| California | $127,010 | $130,250 | $63,460 | $197,400 | 31,530 |
| Virginia | $123,270 | $124,540 | $78,000 | $175,670 | 9,880 |
| Maryland | $122,310 | $122,300 | $66,140 | $174,300 | 6,340 |
| Colorado | $114,600 | $116,410 | $72,760 | $166,500 | 5,580 |
| New Jersey | $111,790 | $118,210 | $69,690 | $163,650 | 6,930 |
| New Hampshire | $110,020 | $109,120 | $61,610 | $155,790 | 610 |
| New York | $108,800 | $120,360 | $62,820 | $180,290 | 11,140 |
| Utah | $107,170 | $116,800 | $46,820 | $175,840 | 4,300 |
| Massachusetts | $106,090 | $112,190 | $66,250 | $164,950 | 7,650 |
| Delaware | $106,020 | $113,060 | $73,650 | $146,070 | 700 |
| New Mexico | $105,520 | $126,740 | $68,890 | N/A | 400 |
| Minnesota | $104,910 | $107,850 | $71,810 | $137,810 | 2,930 |
| Arizona | $103,580 | $104,440 | $61,480 | $142,800 | 3,680 |
| Alaska | $103,160 | $102,280 | $103,160 | $104,170 | N/A |
| Oregon | $103,000 | $112,300 | $47,220 | $189,990 | 3,010 |
| North Carolina | $102,660 | $103,090 | $57,840 | $143,160 | 7,280 |
| Texas | $101,800 | $105,700 | $61,610 | $155,950 | 19,300 |
| Connecticut | $101,270 | $101,750 | $61,060 | $139,830 | 1,200 |
| Montana | $100,790 | $100,840 | $55,690 | $171,320 | 260 |
| Illinois | $100,300 | $102,550 | $62,140 | $136,450 | 6,800 |
| Hawaii | $99,570 | $102,190 | $74,060 | $129,930 | 210 |
| Alabama | $99,520 | $103,760 | $63,810 | $153,360 | 1,910 |
| Michigan | $98,310 | $96,810 | $57,670 | $133,700 | 3,500 |
| Florida | $96,700 | $99,200 | $59,920 | $140,730 | 12,080 |
| Rhode Island | $95,260 | $98,790 | $67,410 | $131,130 | 440 |
| Pennsylvania | $93,600 | $94,440 | $58,130 | $132,210 | 5,690 |
| Georgia | $93,500 | $96,500 | $62,400 | $134,620 | 7,830 |
| South Carolina | $93,140 | $92,140 | $49,870 | $134,300 | 1,320 |
| Nevada | $92,150 | $101,170 | $60,260 | $130,180 | 680 |
| Nebraska | $90,330 | $90,740 | $59,070 | $121,880 | 1,680 |
| Tennessee | $90,170 | $87,720 | $56,130 | $119,380 | 2,290 |
| Indiana | $88,870 | $92,330 | $59,360 | $129,970 | 1,630 |
| Iowa | $85,550 | $90,600 | $51,130 | $128,200 | 1,080 |
| Ohio | $83,960 | $90,190 | $59,800 | $126,280 | 4,000 |
| Kansas | $83,070 | $86,940 | $52,210 | $125,340 | 1,320 |
| Wisconsin | $81,850 | $86,930 | $60,980 | $117,050 | 3,820 |
| North Dakota | $81,750 | $84,520 | $78,260 | $102,000 | 470 |
| Kentucky | $79,390 | $80,440 | $37,490 | $122,250 | 1,140 |
| Maine | $79,040 | $82,980 | $45,490 | $124,130 | 390 |
| Vermont | $77,060 | $85,770 | $53,190 | $134,800 | 130 |
| Missouri | $76,190 | $80,440 | $45,230 | $124,950 | 2,400 |
| Mississippi | $75,860 | $80,130 | $45,130 | $123,090 | 460 |
| Idaho | $72,880 | $100,950 | $36,550 | $203,210 | 490 |
| Oklahoma | $68,730 | $70,860 | $32,060 | $106,620 | 1,720 |
| South Dakota | $61,790 | $65,610 | $45,930 | $94,990 | 350 |
| West Virginia | $61,420 | $67,610 | $27,500 | $129,770 | 260 |
| Louisiana | $50,110 | $62,800 | $35,610 | $123,430 | 540 |
Data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024. Sorted by median salary (highest to lowest). Entry Level = 10th percentile, Top Earners = 90th percentile.
Software QA Engineer Salary FAQs
Which state pays Software QA Engineers the most?
Washington pays the highest median salary for Software QA Engineers at $128,270 per year, according to 2024 BLS data. The top 5 highest paying states are: Washington ($128,270), California ($127,010), Virginia ($123,270), Maryland ($122,310), Colorado ($114,600).
What is the average Software QA Engineer salary nationally?
The average median Software QA Engineer salary across all 48 states is $94,627 per year. The salary ranges from $50,110 in Louisiana to $128,270 in Washington — a difference of $78,160.
Which state pays Software QA Engineers the least?
Louisiana has the lowest median Software QA Engineer salary at $50,110 per year. However, cost of living in Louisiana may be lower, so purchasing power could be comparable.