Salary report · US · 2026
Quality Assurance Analyst Salary
The average quality assurance analyst salary is $69,606 per year in the United States in 2026. Base pay runs from $51,000 at the 10th percentile to $96,000 at the 90th, with a median of $70,000. Bonuses add $688–$7,000, putting total pay between roughly $46,000 and $95,000.
Definition & distribution
What is the average quality assurance analyst salary?
A quality assurance analyst earns an average base salary of $69,606 per year in the US as of 2026. The role tests software and products against quality standards, and pay rises as analysts add test automation and deeper technical skills.
The 10th percentile at $51,000 is 27% below the $70,000 median, while the 90th at $96,000 is 37% above it. The upper tail rewards analysts who move from manual testing toward automation and QA engineering.
Known limitations. This record is built on 887 salary profiles (last updated May 2026). The median is reliable; the upper range often reflects analysts moving toward automation and QA-engineering roles.
Pay components
How is quality assurance analyst total pay structured?
Reported total compensation for quality assurance analysts has two components: base salary and a modest annual bonus.
| Component | Low | High | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base salary | $51,000 | $96,000 | Dense around the $70k median |
| Annual bonus | $688 | $7,000 | Up to ~7% of top-end base |
| Total pay | $46,000 | $95,000 | Base plus reported bonus |
Pay by experience
How does experience change a quality assurance analyst salary?
Quality assurance analyst pay rises steadily, with the biggest gains coming late as analysts add automation. Entry-level sits about 19% below the role average, and late-career reaches roughly 22% above.
- 01
Entry level (<1 year): ~19% below average
Manual testing and test execution, where most analysts start.
- 02
Early to mid career: −9% to +6%
Pay crosses the role average as analysts add test planning and automation.
- 03
Experienced & late career: +17% to +22%
The top of the range, usually held by analysts working as QA or automation engineers.
Skills
Which skills affect a quality assurance analyst salary?
Reported skills split into three tiers. Manual testing is the baseline; test planning and automation command a premium; and broader engineering opens the top of the range.
- 01
Manual testing — the baseline
Quality assurance, software testing, and black-box testing appear across profiles. They define the role.
- 02
Test planning & automation — the premium tier
Test planning, quality improvement, and automation skills map to the upper end of the range.
- 03
Engineering breadth — the promotion tier
Data analysis and coding are what move analysts toward higher-paid QA-engineering roles.
Geography
Where do quality assurance analysts earn the most?
Reported profiles concentrate in large metros with dense software and enterprise demand.
| Metro | Market character | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | Finance & enterprise | Top of range; highest cost of living |
| Los Angeles, CA | Media & consumer tech | Broad demand |
| Chicago, IL | Enterprise & fintech | Good pay-to-cost ratio |
| Dallas, TX | Corporate IT hubs | Lower cost of living |
| Houston, TX | Energy & enterprise | Steady demand |
Check your pay
Where does your salary fall?
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Raising your pay
How can quality assurance analysts increase their salary?
Three mechanisms reliably move quality assurance analyst pay, in descending order of effect:
- 01
Learn test automation
Moving from manual to automated testing is the clearest path up this role's range.
- 02
Add engineering skills
Coding and data-analysis depth open the path to higher-paid QA-engineering roles.
- 03
Change employers
Product companies and larger employers re-price QA work upward.
FAQ
Quality Assurance Analyst salary: FAQ
About $96,000 per year at the 90th percentile of base pay. With bonuses of up to $7,000, top-end total compensation lands around $95,000 on file.
About $51,000 per year at the 10th percentile of base pay. Figures this low typically reflect entry-level manual-testing roles.
Most reliably by learning test automation, adding engineering skills, and moving to product companies.
Sometimes, and they are modest. Reported annual bonuses range from about $688 to $7,000, bringing total pay to between roughly $46,000 and $95,000 per year.
Reliable at the median, built on 887 salary profiles reported to PayScale (updated May 2026). The upper range often reflects analysts moving into automation.
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