Software Quality Assurance Tester II Salary in the United States
How much does a Software Quality Assurance Tester II make in the United States?
As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Software Quality Assurance Tester II in the United States is $54,231 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $26.
However, a Software Quality Assurance Tester II's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $69,528
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $47,572 to $62,238
Key Factors That Influence Software Quality Assurance Tester II Salaries
A Software Quality Assurance Tester II's salary isn't a fixed number.
It's shaped by several important factors.
Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
How Experience Level Affects Software Quality Assurance Tester Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Software Quality Assurance Tester II's salary.
As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases.
Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:
Software Quality Assurance Tester I (0-1 years): $47,813
Software Quality Assurance Tester II (1-3 years): $54,231
Software Quality Assurance Tester III (3-5 years): $64,695
Software Quality Assurance Tester IV (5-7 years): $72,705
How Do Software Quality Assurance Tester II Salaries Vary from State to State?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work.
States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors
often pay more to attract Software Quality Assurance Tester IIs.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Top Paying Cities for Software Quality Assurance Tester IIs
Salaries can also vary between different cities.
Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay.
Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:
San Jose: $68,402
San Francisco: $67,653
Oakland: $66,227
San Jose, CA$68,402
San Francisco, CA$67,653
Oakland, CA$66,227
New York, NY$62,441
Paramus, NJ$61,682
Queens Village, NY$61,679
Passaic, NJ$61,628
Bergenfield, NJ$61,623
Stamford, CT$61,503
Huntington, NY$61,481
Newark, NJ$61,080
Bridgeport, CT$60,966
Vallejo, CA$60,858
New Brunswick, NJ$60,836
Petaluma, CA$60,804
Middlesex, NJ$60,701
Somerset, NJ$60,663
Santa Cruz, CA$60,592
Boston, MA$60,261
Monterey, CA$60,071
Seattle, WA$59,947
Santa Rosa, CA$59,936
Los Angeles, CA$59,920
Juneau, AK$59,779
Washington, DC$59,719
Orange, CA$59,526
Santa Ana, CA$59,383
Long Beach, CA$59,329
Anaheim, CA$59,318
Anchorage, AK$59,291
Santa Maria, CA$59,128
Everett, WA$59,117
Danbury, CT$58,926
Bremerton, WA$58,851
Tacoma, WA$58,656
New Suffolk, NY$58,655
Sacramento, CA$58,640
Santa Barbara, CA$58,580
Trenton, NJ$58,521
San Diego, CA$58,521
Brockton, MA$58,461
Fairbanks, AK$58,328
Lompoc, CA$58,190
Lowell, MA$58,146
Ventura, CA$58,136
Nashua, NH$58,125
Stockton, CA$58,119
Modesto, CA$57,723
Poughkeepsie, NY$57,604
Olympia, WA$57,501
Kennewick, WA$57,501
New Haven, CT$57,479
Lawrence, MA$57,284
Hartford, CT$57,230
Riverside, CA$57,219
New Bedford, MA$57,165
Richland, WA$57,165
Bakersfield, CA$57,089
San Bernardino, CA$57,067
New Britain, CT$57,062
Atlantic City, NJ$57,062
New London, CT$57,040
Norwich, CT$57,024
Portsmouth, NH$57,013
Boulder, CO$56,898
Portland, OR$56,823
Worcester, MA$56,818
Minneapolis, MN$56,650
Philadelphia, PA$56,574
Honolulu, HI$56,395
Saint Paul, MN$56,369
Vineland, NJ$56,357
Providence, RI$56,200
Chicago, IL$56,042
Bellingham, WA$55,977
Springfield, MA$55,934
Baltimore, MD$55,918
Chico, CA$55,782
Pittsfield, MA$55,636
Manchester, NH$55,533
Spokane, WA$55,294
Denver, CO$55,289
Albany, NY$55,034
Troy, NY$55,012
Nassau, NY$54,954
Schenectady, NY$54,898
Wilmington, DE$54,855
Burlington, VT$54,779
Salem, OR$54,757
Portland, ME$54,589
Yakima, WA$54,535
Rochester, MN$54,367
Reno, NV$54,339
Fresno, CA$54,339
Milwaukee, WI$54,291
Detroit, MI$54,236
Ann Arbor, MI$54,227
Allentown, PA$54,220
Colorado Springs, CO$54,128
Syracuse, NY$54,101
Carson City, NV$54,101
Houston, TX$54,025
Eugene, OR$53,998
Gary, IN$53,933
Springfield, OR$53,889
Bismarck, ND$53,878
Galveston, TX$53,841
Medford, OR$53,759
Fort Collins, CO$53,737
Concord, NH$53,710
Austin, TX$53,694
Mesa, AZ$53,580
Reading, PA$53,575
Phoenix, AZ$53,569
Dallas, TX$53,553
Saint Cloud, MN$53,501
Madison, WI$53,428
Utica, NY$53,282
Rochester, NY$53,195
Des Moines, IA$53,190
Raleigh, NC$53,184
Atlanta, GA$53,103
Battle Creek, MI$53,087
Salt Lake City, UT$53,070
Lancaster, PA$52,989
Harrisburg, PA$52,913
Kansas City, MO$52,859
Champaign, IL$52,848
Kansas City, KS$52,848
Fort Worth, TX$52,843
Columbus, OH$52,833
Boca Raton, FL$52,821
Pittsburgh, PA$52,799
Richmond, VA$52,778
Indianapolis, IN$52,767
Cleveland, OH$52,761
Las Vegas, NV$52,696
Cincinnati, OH$52,696
Petersburg, VA$52,615
Huntsville, AL$52,534
Lansing, MI$52,497
Lebanon, PA$52,490
Pueblo, CO$52,485
Appleton, WI$52,468
Buffalo, NY$52,447
Dayton, OH$52,431
Racine, WI$52,420
Charlotte, NC$52,414
Saint Louis, MO$52,398
York, PA$52,365
Elkhart, IN$52,365
Gastonia, NC$52,355
Billings, MT$52,342
Beaumont, TX$52,327
Lorain, OH$52,317
Benton Harbor, MI$52,306
Toledo, OH$52,295
Binghamton, NY$52,268
Rock Hill, SC$52,262
Rockford, IL$52,235
Springfield, IL$52,214
Elyria, OH$52,208
Fargo, ND$52,208
Flagstaff, AZ$52,170
Fort Lauderdale, FL$52,138
Duluth, MN$52,105
Miami, FL$52,105
Cheyenne, WY$52,067
Grand Forks, ND$52,067
Bangor, ME$51,948
Cedar Rapids, IA$51,888
Durham, NC$51,865
Louisville, KY$51,861
Grand Rapids, MI$51,850
Hialeah, FL$51,845
Casper, WY$51,769
Scranton, PA$51,704
New Orleans, LA$51,688
Virginia Beach, VA$51,682
Akron, OH$51,655
Peoria, IL$51,585
Sarasota, FL$51,574
Nashville, TN$51,536
Omaha, NE$51,536
Green Bay, WI$51,536
Baton Rouge, LA$51,509
Charleston, SC$51,498
Jamestown, NY$51,471
Davenport, IA$51,471
Tucson, AZ$51,444
Saint Petersburg, FL$51,411
Tampa, FL$51,400
Evansville, IN$51,368
Port Arthur, TX$51,368
Bradenton, FL$51,346
Santa Fe, NM$51,248
Orlando, FL$51,151
Clearwater, FL$51,134
Canton, OH$51,021
La Crosse, WI$51,021
Albuquerque, NM$50,988
Newport News, VA$50,983
High Point, NC$50,966
Ogden, UT$50,945
Corpus Christi, TX$50,901
Norfolk, VA$50,869
Laramie, WY$50,869
Rock Island, IL$50,836
Saginaw, MI$50,825
Jacksonville, FL$50,820
Salisbury, NC$50,809
Boise, ID$50,798
Moline, IL$50,771
Fort Myers, FL$50,755
Memphis, TN$50,744
Tulsa, OK$50,717
Waterloo, IA$50,684
Spartanburg, SC$50,630
Lincoln, NE$50,603
Fort Wayne, IN$50,592
Provo, UT$50,587
Cedar Falls, IA$50,522
San Antonio, TX$50,500
Greensboro, NC$50,478
South Bend, IN$50,473
Savannah, GA$50,413
Muskegon, MI$50,391
Birmingham, AL$50,386
Winston Salem, NC$50,359
Lake Charles, LA$50,229
Anderson, IN$50,218
Lexington, KY$50,202
Augusta, GA$50,185
Greenville, SC$50,185
Lima, OH$50,142
Wichita, KS$50,137
Tuscaloosa, AL$50,137
Columbia, SC$50,088
Springfield, OH$50,077
Asheville, NC$49,990
Bloomington, IN$49,952
Knoxville, TN$49,757
Shreveport, LA$49,752
Wilmington, NC$49,681
Roanoke, VA$49,681
Topeka, KS$49,583
Frankfort, KY$49,577
Oklahoma City, OK$49,540
Chillicothe, OH$49,518
Longview, TX$49,513
Melbourne, FL$49,507
Sioux Falls, SD$49,421
Mobile, AL$49,415
Terre Haute, IN$49,394
Altoona, PA$49,361
Amarillo, TX$49,323
Killeen, TX$49,307
Fayetteville, AR$49,263
Chattanooga, TN$49,247
Sioux City, IA$49,198
Idaho Falls, ID$49,188
Lynchburg, VA$49,144
Gainesville, FL$49,074
Portsmouth, OH$49,047
Little Rock, AR$49,036
Lafayette, LA$49,014
Youngstown, OH$49,014
Daytona Beach, FL$48,981
Clarksville, TN$48,976
Pensacola, FL$48,971
Temple, TX$48,967
Hopkinsville, KY$48,808
Erie, PA$48,797
Florence, SC$48,775
Charleston, WV$48,689
Great Falls, MT$48,661
Macon, GA$48,586
Tallahassee, FL$48,580
Fayetteville, NC$48,569
Waco, TX$48,558
Helena, MT$48,520
Pine Bluff, AR$48,500
Vincennes, IN$48,434
Lubbock, TX$48,412
Alamogordo, NM$48,379
Twin Falls, ID$48,331
Rapid City, SD$48,314
Jackson, MS$48,217
Huntington, WV$48,213
Greenville, MS$48,211
Parkersburg, WV$48,156
Montgomery, AL$48,146
Wichita Falls, TX$48,092
Springfield, MO$48,092
Biloxi, MS$48,065
Monroe, LA$48,011
Johnstown, PA$47,973
Sumter, SC$47,951
Columbus, GA$47,946
Pascagoula, MS$47,843
Abilene, TX$47,843
Kingsport, TN$47,702
Albany, GA$47,702
Gulfport, MS$47,685
Alexandria, LA$47,506
Fort Smith, AR$47,371
El Paso, TX$47,224
Las Cruces, NM$46,980
Harlingen, TX$46,843
Pocatello, ID$46,834
Florence, AL$46,763
Brownsville, TX$46,753
Mcallen, TX$46,639
Dothan, AL$46,563
Columbus, MS$46,241
Altus, OK$45,988
Lawton, OK$45,885
Pierre, SD$45,690
What Skills Can Increase a Software Quality Assurance Tester II's Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Analysis (Mentioned in 6.51% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
Software Testing (Mentioned in 2.91% Job Postings): Software testing is an investigation conducted to provide stakeholders with information about the quality of the software product or service under test. Software testing can also provide an objective, independent view of the software to allow the business to appreciate and understand the risks of software implementation. Test techniques include the process of executing a program or application with the intent of finding software bugs (errors or other defects), and verifying that the software product is fit for use. Software testing involves the execution of a software component or system component to evaluate one or more properties of interest. In general, these properties indicate the extent to which the component or system under test: meets the requirements that guided its design and development, responds correctly to all kinds of inputs, performs its functions within an acceptable time, it is sufficiently usable, can be installed and run in its intended environments, and achieves the general result its stakeholders desire.
Software Development (Mentioned in 2.27% Job Postings): Software development is the process of conceiving, specifying, designing, programming, documenting, testing, and bug fixing involved in creating and maintaining applications, frameworks, or other software components. Software development is a process of writing and maintaining the source code, but in a broader sense, it includes all that is involved between the conception of the desired software through to the final manifestation of the software, sometimes in a planned and structured process. Therefore, software development may include research, new development, prototyping, modification, reuse, re-engineering, maintenance, or any other activities that result in software products. Software can be developed for a variety of purposes, the three most common being to meet specific needs of a specific client/business (the case with custom software), to meet a perceived need of some set of potential users (the case with commercial and open source software), or for personal use (e.g. a scientist may write software to automate a mundane task). Embedded software development, that is, the development of embedded software, such as used for controlling consumer products, requires the development process to be integrated with the development of the controlled physical product. System software underlies applications and the programming process itself, and is often developed separately.
See More Skills
Skills
Demand Percentage
Analysis
6.51%
Software Testing
2.91%
Software Development
2.27%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay.
Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Software Quality Assurance Tester II's salary.
IDEA: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
Social Engineering: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
Penetration Testing: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Skill
Salary
Salary % Increase
IDEA
$60,196
11%
Social Engineering
$59,112
9%
Penetration Testing
$58,569
8%
Cybersecurity
$58,569
8%
Python
$58,027
7%
Software Development
$58,027
7%
Get Latest Data
Software Quality Assurance Tester II Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise
Software Quality Assurance Tester II salary potential scales significantly with company size.
Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $60,657.
While startup companies pay approximate $51,298.
Software Quality Assurance Tester II Salary by Company Size
Company Size
Employees
Average Salary
Startup
1~50
$51,298
Growth Stage
51~500
$54,255
Established
501~5000
$58,576
Enterprise
5000+
$60,657
Software Quality Assurance Tester II Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Software Quality Assurance Tester II roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential
by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries).
Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology
sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average.
In contrast, Software Quality Assurance Tester positions in Hospitality & Leisure or MFG Nondurable typically offer lower base pay,
as these industries often view Software Quality Assurance Tester II as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industries for a Software Quality Assurance Tester II
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals
$65,077
$31.0
20%
Biotechnology
$62,366
$30.0
15%
Financial Services
$62,366
$30.0
15%
Software & Networking
$62,366
$30.0
15%
Energy & Utilities
$59,654
$29.0
10%
Software Quality Assurance Tester II Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Software Quality Assurance Tester II's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting.
Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role.
Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
Hourly
Monthly
Weekly
Yearly
Table View
Last Updated on July 01, 2026
$47,572
Average$54,231/year
$62,238
$3,964
Average$4,519/month
$5,187
$915
Average$1,043/week
$1,197
$23
Average$26/hour
$30
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$62,238
$5,187
$1,197
$30
Average
$54,231
$4,519
$1,043
$26
25th Percentile
$47,572
$3,964
$915
$23
Software Quality Assurance Tester II Salary Growth & Career Path
For a Software Quality Assurance Tester II, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Software Quality Assurance Tester III role.
This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to
$64,695 - a projected growth of
19%
over your current level.
Salaries of jobs related to Software Quality Assurance Tester II
Salary Trends for Software Quality Assurance Tester II
Salaries for a Software Quality Assurance Tester II can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary increased from $56,119 in 2023
to around $57,152 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Software Quality Assurance Tester II salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Software Quality Assurance Tester II Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$56,119
2024
$57,479
2025
$57,152
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$56,119
2024
$57,479
2025
$57,152
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Software Quality Assurance Tester II
Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Software Quality Assurance Tester II
Here are companies hiring for Software Quality Assurance Tester II and their salaries, click below for more details.
C
$128,509/per year
C R Bard Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
H
$124,697/per year
Henry Schein Canada
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$123,899/per year
Nordex Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$120,416/per year
Nipro Corp
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$115,870/per year
Enovis
Biotechnology
the United States
A
$114,553/per year
Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy
Biotechnology
the United States
M
$112,110/per year
MiniMed Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$111,500/per year
Labcorp Drug Development
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$110,229/per year
Life Technologies Corp
Biotechnology
the United States
Z
$106,224/per year
Zimmer Biomet
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$103,077/per year
Promontory Therapeutics
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$102,181/per year
Steris PLC
Biotechnology
the United States
G
$97,274/per year
Gavin Conferences Pty Ltd
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$94,764/per year
Endeavor BioMedicines
Biotechnology
the United States
R
$94,402/per year
Replay Holdings LLC
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$94,235/per year
Pleno Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$93,666/per year
Simulaids Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$88,880/per year
NOIRLab/CAS
Biotechnology
the United States
O
$86,468/per year
Onward Technology
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$84,895/per year
LED Medical Diagnostics Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$84,682/per year
Eyeco Ltd
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$84,523/per year
Paerosol
Biotechnology
the United States
I
$83,525/per year
IONIQ Sciences Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$82,815/per year
Stateside PPE
Biotechnology
the United States
D
$82,041/per year
Digi Bio
Biotechnology
the United States
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FAQ about Software Quality Assurance Tester II
1. Where can a Software Quality Assurance Tester II earn the most?
A Software Quality Assurance Tester II's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer.
According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Software Quality Assurance Tester II earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Software Quality Assurance Tester II is $68,402.
2. What is the highest pay for Software Quality Assurance Tester II?
The highest pay for Software Quality Assurance Tester II is $69,528.
3. What is the lowest pay for Software Quality Assurance Tester II?
The lowest pay for Software Quality Assurance Tester II is $41,509.
4. What are the responsibilities of Software Quality Assurance Tester II?
Manually tests features of new software releases using pre-defined test plans and cases to identify defects, bugs, and usability issues. Utilizes standardized testing procedures to ensure consistent and accurate diagnosis. Executes tests on a variety of devices, browsers, and operating systems to ensure optimal user experience and functionality across platforms. Documents test results and uses designated systems and tools to track and report outcomes. Performs follow-up rounds of testing as needed to ensure defects are resolved. Requires an associate degree. Typically reports to a supervisor. Works under moderate supervision. Gaining or has attained full proficiency in a specific area of discipline. Typically requires 1-3 years of related experience.
5. What industry pays the highest salary for Software Quality Assurance Tester II?
The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Software Quality Assurance Tester II roles,
with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.
Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?
Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.
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