Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers salary in Madison, WI
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers in the Madison, WI metro area earn a median of $97,840 a year ($47.04 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,470 workers.
Pay ranges from $64,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $165,290 for the top 10%. That is 6% lower than the national median of $104,300. Pay here is 9% higher than the Wisconsin statewide median of $89,400. There are 3.6 software quality assurance analysts and testers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 3.0× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $106,230, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for software quality assurance analysts and testers in Madison, WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $64,080 | $30.81 |
| 25th percentile | $73,540 | $35.36 |
| Median | $97,840 | $47.04 |
| 75th percentile | $139,460 | $67.05 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $165,290 | $79.47 |
| Average (mean) | $106,230 | $51.07 |
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 | $8,153.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,076.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,763.08 |
| Weekly | $1,881.54 |
| Hourly | $47.04 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Kenosha, WI | $110,770 | 50 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $102,130 | 2,190 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $97,390 | 790 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $95,600 | 50 |
| Green Bay, WI | $92,120 | 140 |
| Appleton, WI | $90,890 | 40 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | $85,550 | 40 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $83,330 | 40 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $79,840 | 70 |
| Wausau, WI | $74,840 | 30 |
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 Wisconsin statewide figures.
Related jobs in Madison, WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | $130,630 | $62.80 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $59,590 | $28.65 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $100,550 | $48.34 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $97,950 | $47.09 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $91,580 | $44.03 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $90,400 | $43.46 |
| Database Administrator | $105,680 | $50.81 |
| Information Security Analyst | $104,110 | $50.05 |
| Computer Network Architect | $135,490 | $65.14 |
| Computer Programmer | $97,410 | $46.83 |
| Web Developer | $83,500 | $40.14 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $81,080 | $38.98 |
| Database Architect | $155,160 | $74.60 |
| Operations Research Analyst | $75,650 | $36.37 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in Madison, WI
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 Madison, WI?
The median salary for software quality assurance analysts and testers in the Madison, WI metro area is $97,840 a year, or $47.04 an hour. Pay ranges from $64,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $165,290 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid software quality assurance analysts and testers make in Madison, WI?
The top 10% of software quality assurance analysts and testers in the Madison, WI metro area earn at least $165,290 a year. The top 25% earn $139,460 or more.
What is the starting pay for software quality assurance analysts and testers in Madison, WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $64,080 a year, and a quarter of software quality assurance analysts and testers earn $73,540 or less.
How many software quality assurance analysts and testers work in Madison, WI?
About 1,470 software quality assurance analysts and testers are employed in the Madison, WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.