Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers Salary in Columbia, SC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Columbia, SC

Median annual salary $76,360 -25.6% vs national
Median hourly $36.71
10th percentile $43,230
90th percentile $117,720
Employed locally 400
National median $102,610

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Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers
in
Columbia, SC
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $43,230
    25th
    $58,520
    50th (median)
    $76,360
    75th
    $100,220
    90th
    $117,720

    Columbia economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $66,146 2023 • Census ACS
    Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers salary vs area income 115% Median Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers salary is 15% above the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $165,700
    Lexington Park, MD $159,870
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $139,580
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $131,640
    Western Washington nonmetropolitan area $129,940
    Rochester, MN $128,820

    Nearby metros — Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $139,580
    Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA $106,530
    Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $104,410
    Spartanburg, SC $102,940
    Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $99,930
    Charleston-North Charleston, SC $95,520

    Related occupations in Columbia, SC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Software Developers $103,400
    Computer Systems Analysts $87,880
    Computer User Support Specialists $55,050
    Computer Occupations, All Other $88,770
    Network and Computer Systems Administrators $86,600
    Data Scientists $90,780

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers make per hour in Columbia?

    The median hourly wage for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers in Columbia, SC is $36.71, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $61.33 or more per hour.

    Is Columbia above or below average for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers salaries?

    The median Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers salary in Columbia, SC is 25.6% below the national median of $102,610. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers in Columbia?

    Entry-level Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers (10th percentile) earn around $43,230 per year in Columbia, SC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $58,520.