How does District of Columbia compare to the national median for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers?

The District of Columbia median is +3.2% versus the BLS national figure of $106,735.

Is Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers a growing field?

BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 10.0% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.

What education is required for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers?

BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.

Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers Salary in District of Columbia

Median annual$110,130

Mean annual$108,750

Range (10th to 90th)$42,730 to $157,940

District of Columbia employment750

State vs national+3.2% vs national

Salary distribution

Where District of Columbia software quality assurance analysts and testers fall on the wage curve.

Annual wage distribution

Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)

The middle 50% of workers earn between $84,270 and $131,310, with a median of $110,130.

Real disclosed salaries

Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers in District of Columbia: actual employer-disclosed pay

Public records from 53 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $105,000. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.

By DOL wage level

DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.

Level	Filings	Median offer
Level I — entry	6	$81,910
Level II — qualified	28	$101,250
Level III — experienced	9	$128,461
Level IV — fully competent	5	$139,880

Top employers filing for this role

Companies with the most certified filings for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers in District of Columbia. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.

Employer	Most-filed title	Filings	Median
COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS US CORP	Mgr. JC50 - Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers	7	$120,557
COMPUNNEL SOFTWARE GROUP, INC	Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester	6	$106,000
TATA CONSULTANCY SERVICES LIMITED	Analyst - Testing	5	$101,234
ICloud Technologies Corp.	Automation Test Engineer	3	$102,110
The American Institute of Architects	Sr. Director, Quality, Release and Innovation	2	$133,824
IT Ridge Technologies LLC	Software Engineer	2	$103,844
Comcast Cable Communications, LLC	Engineer 4, Software Development & Engineering - Backend Eng	2	$110,895
AINS, LLC	Director of QA	2	$139,880
National Railroad Passenger Corporation	Principal Quality Assurance Analyst	2	$132,240
Sapot Systems, Inc	Test Automation Developer	1	$106,454

Recent sample filings

A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.

Test Automation Developer at Sapot Systems, Inc
$106,454
WashingtonDecided Dec 18, 2025I-200-25345-476014
SOFTWARE TEST ENGINEER at QUIDDITY INFOTECH LLC
$106,454
WASHINGTONDecided Nov 20, 2025I-200-25317-405957
Software Quality Assurance Engineer and Tester at COMPUNNEL SOFTWARE GROUP, INC
$107,000
WashingtonDecided Nov 19, 2025I-200-25316-402538
Mgr. JC50 - Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers at COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS US CORP
$128,461
WashingtonWage Level IIIDecided Sep 24, 2025I-200-25260-314036
Sr. Director, Quality, Release and Innovation at The American Institute of Architects
$133,824
WashingtonWage Level IIIDecided Sep 23, 2025I-200-25259-312884
Sr Test Engineer at Adis Infotech Inc
$128,461
WashingtonWage Level IIIDecided Sep 18, 2025I-200-25254-303531
Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester at COMPUNNEL SOFTWARE GROUP, INC
$107,000
WashingtonWage Level IIDecided Sep 15, 2025I-200-25251-294672
Sr. Director, Quality, Release and Innovation at The American Institute of Architects
$133,824
WashingtonWage Level IIIDecided Sep 11, 2025I-200-25247-287563

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.

By seniority

Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers pay by experience level in District of Columbia

Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.

Entry →Mid →Senior →Lead →

Specialties

Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers specialties in District of Columbia

Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 16 certified offers. The most common variant is Analyst - Testing at a median of $101,234.

Specialty	Top employer	Filings	Median offer
Analyst - Testing	TATA CONSULTANCY SERVICES LIMITED	6	$101,234
Mgr. JC50 - Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers	COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS US CORP	4	$124,509
Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester	COMPUNNEL SOFTWARE GROUP, INC	3	$107,000
SA JC60 - Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers	COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS US CORP	3	$101,234

Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.

Pay by industry

Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers in District of Columbia, by industry

Median offered wage across 53 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Technology and software leads with a median of $103,000.

Industry	Largest employer	Filings	Median offer
Technology and software	COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS US CORP	47	$103,000
Nonprofit and civic	The American Institute of Architects	2	$133,824
Professional services	EAB Global, Inc.	2	$101,527
Transportation and logistics	National Railroad Passenger Corporation	2	$132,240

Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.

Wage trend

Median annual wage in District of Columbia over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.

Median annual wage, District of Columbia2023 to 2024

Typical entry

Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None

Top skills (O*NET)

Computers and Electronics
Knowledge
4.4 / 5
Deductive Reasoning
Ability
4.0 / 5
Reading Comprehension
Basic skill
4.0 / 5
Oral Comprehension
Ability
4.0 / 5
Written Comprehension
Ability
4.0 / 5
Problem Sensitivity
Ability
4.0 / 5
Oral Expression
Ability
4.0 / 5
Inductive Reasoning
Ability
4.0 / 5

Common tasks (O*NET)

01
Identify, analyze, and document problems with program function, output, online screen, or content.
02
Document software defects, using a bug tracking system, and report defects to software developers.
03
Develop testing programs that address areas such as database impacts, software scenarios, regression testing, negative testing, error or bug retests, or usability.
04
Design test plans, scenarios, scripts, or procedures.
05
Document test procedures to ensure replicability and compliance with standards.
06
Provide feedback and recommendations to developers on software usability and functionality.
07
Install, maintain, or use software testing programs.
08
Test system modifications to prepare for implementation.

10-year outlook

Growth 2024 → 2034

+10.0%

Projected annual openings

—

BLS outlook

Growing faster than average

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.

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Top metros in District of Columbia

Metro-level salary data for software quality assurance analysts and testers in major District of Columbia metropolitan areas.

Washington, D.C.$126,430

Compare Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers pay across nearby states

Frequently asked questions

What is the median salary for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers in District of Columbia?: According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers in District of Columbia is $110,130.
How does District of Columbia compare to the national median for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers?: The District of Columbia median is +3.2% versus the BLS national figure of $106,735.
What is the salary range for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers in District of Columbia?: BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $42,730 and the 90th-percentile at $157,940, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
Is Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers a growing field?: BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 10.0% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
What education is required for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers?: BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.

Disclaimer

Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.