Salary distribution
Where Illinois software quality assurance analysts and testers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $79,630 and $126,500, with a median of $100,300.
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers in Illinois: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 949 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $91,853. 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 | 73 | $66,000 |
| Level II — qualified | 438 | $82,368 |
| Level III — experienced | 168 | $102,907 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 132 | $123,793 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers in Illinois. 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 | 134 | $99,237 |
| CAPGEMINI AMERICA INC | Test Consultant 3 | 35 | $110,200 |
| SLK AMERICA INC | Test Engineer | 24 | $82,368 |
| Ibase Operations Corp. | Senior Engineer | 18 | $82,368 |
| Krasan Consulting Services, Inc. | IT QA Analyst/Software Automation | 16 | $60,000 |
| Cigniti Technologies, Inc. | Test Automation Engineer | 15 | $82,368 |
| Capgemini America Inc | Test Consultant 3 | 14 | $119,064 |
| L&T Technology Services Limited | Software Engineer & Tester | 12 | $84,469 |
| GlobalLogic Inc. | Senior Test Engineer | 11 | $88,088 |
| ValueLabs, Inc. | Project Manager - QE | 11 | $93,672 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- AVC ENGINEER at ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE STAFFING LLC$71,427CHICAGODecided Dec 30, 2025I-200-25356-502933
- Mgr. JC50 - Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers at COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS US CORP$104,728NapervilleDecided Dec 29, 2025I-200-25355-500464
- Senior Test Specialist at HCL AMERICA INC$130,000BolingbrookDecided Dec 29, 2025I-200-25353-496624
- Test Consultant 3 at CAPGEMINI AMERICA INC$101,730NORMALDecided Dec 29, 2025I-200-25353-496698
- IT Delivery Specialist at Advancion Corporation$122,000Buffalo GroveDecided Dec 29, 2025I-200-25353-497437
- SOFTWARE QA ENGINEER at RPA TECHNOLOGIES LLC$71,427DOWNERS GROVEDecided Dec 26, 2025I-200-25352-493784
- Advisor-Technical Quality at FedEx Freight, Inc.$151,364MundeleinDecided Dec 26, 2025I-200-25352-494077
- Test Engineer at Skylar IT Consulting LLC$88,088EvanstonDecided Dec 26, 2025I-200-25352-495026
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.
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers pay by experience level in Illinois
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.
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers specialties in Illinois
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 398 certified offers. The most common variant is Mgr. JC50 - Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers at a median of $99,237.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mgr. JC50 - Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS US CORP | 81 | $99,237 |
| SA JC60 - Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS US CORP | 54 | $82,368 |
| Test Consultant | CAPGEMINI AMERICA INC | 50 | $113,425 |
| QA Engineer | Radixlink, Inc. | 38 | $90,700 |
| Test Engineer | GlobalLogic Inc. | 33 | $82,368 |
| QA Analyst | Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. | 27 | $90,000 |
| Quality Engineer | FedEx Dataworks, Inc. | 24 | $99,619 |
| Software Test Engineer | Caterpillar Inc. | 22 | $85,000 |
| Quality Assurance Analyst | ASPIRE SYSTEMS DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION INC. | 20 | $87,000 |
| Engineer | Ibase Operations Corp. | 18 | $98,205 |
| Analyst - Testing | TATA CONSULTANCY SERVICES LIMITED | 16 | $82,368 |
| Test Automation Engineer | Cigniti Technologies, Inc. | 15 | $82,368 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers in Illinois, by industry
Median offered wage across 946 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Technology and software leads with a median of $88,088.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technology and software | COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS US CORP | 708 | $88,088 |
| Professional services | L&T Technology Services Limited | 97 | $99,840 |
| Finance and insurance | Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. | 72 | $119,771 |
| Manufacturing | Caterpillar Inc. | 34 | $116,085 |
| Retail and wholesale | Medline Industries, LP. | 28 | $122,179 |
| Transportation and logistics | Hub Group, Inc. | 5 | $129,413 |
| Healthcare | Teladoc Health Inc. | 2 | $107,661 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Illinois over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.4 / 5
Computers and Electronics
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 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
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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Metro-level salary data for software quality assurance analysts and testers in major Illinois metropolitan areas.
- Chicago$102,360
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 Illinois?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers in Illinois is $100,300.
- How does Illinois compare to the national median for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers?
- The Illinois median is -6.0% versus the BLS national figure of $106,735.
- What is the salary range for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers in Illinois?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $62,140 and the 90th-percentile at $136,450, 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.
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.