Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers salary in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area earn a median of $129,880 a year ($62.44 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,670 workers.
Pay ranges from $80,350 for the lowest-paid 10% to $169,930 for the top 10%. That is 25% higher than the national median of $104,300. Pay here is 17% higher than the Maryland statewide median of $111,100. There are 2.0 software quality assurance analysts and testers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $129,400, close to the median.
Pay range for software quality assurance analysts and testers in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $80,350 | $38.63 |
| 25th percentile | $102,070 | $49.07 |
| Median | $129,880 | $62.44 |
| 75th percentile | $160,700 | $77.26 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $169,930 | $81.70 |
| Average (mean) | $129,400 | $62.21 |
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 | $10,823.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,411.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,995.38 |
| Weekly | $2,497.69 |
| Hourly | $62.44 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Lexington Park, MD | $147,520 | 400 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $126,350 | 8,460 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $102,740 | 2,650 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $85,910 | 40 |
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 Maryland statewide figures.
Related jobs in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | $138,900 | $66.78 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $135,600 | $65.19 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $108,980 | $52.40 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $62,950 | $30.26 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $102,980 | $49.51 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $122,950 | $59.11 |
| Information Security Analyst | $138,170 | $66.43 |
| Computer Network Architect | $160,340 | $77.09 |
| Database Administrator | $123,730 | $59.49 |
| Computer and Information Research Scientists | $156,750 | $75.36 |
| Web Developer | $107,590 | $51.73 |
| Computer Programmer | $106,420 | $51.16 |
| Database Architect | $132,940 | $63.92 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $96,760 | $46.52 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
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 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
The median salary for software quality assurance analysts and testers in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area is $129,880 a year, or $62.44 an hour. Pay ranges from $80,350 for the lowest-paid 10% to $169,930 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid software quality assurance analysts and testers make in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
The top 10% of software quality assurance analysts and testers in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area earn at least $169,930 a year. The top 25% earn $160,700 or more.
What is the starting pay for software quality assurance analysts and testers in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $80,350 a year, and a quarter of software quality assurance analysts and testers earn $102,070 or less.
How many software quality assurance analysts and testers work in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
About 2,670 software quality assurance analysts and testers are employed in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area, not counting the self-employed.