Software Tester Average Salary & Hourly Rate in 2025
Software testers are manual testers whose primary responsibility is making sure that the company's software runs seamlessly and is fully capable of delivering the clients' needs. As of September 11, 2025, the average salary for a Software Tester in the United States is $34,800 per year.
The salary of a Software Tester may vary depending on key factors such as education level, experience, geographic location, skills, and demand.
In the following sections, this guide will provide an overview of artist salaries and a detailed outline of their job responsibilities, job outlook, and career trends for the coming years.
An Overview of Software Tester's Salary
The average salary for a Software Tester in 2025 is $47,740 per year. The salary of Software Testers usually ranges between $36,774 to $59,164, with the majority earning $42,000 to $53,720 per year.
| Percentile | Average annual salary |
|---|---|
| 10% Percentile | $36,774 |
| 25% Percentile | $42,000 |
| 50% Percentile (Median) | $47,740 |
| 75% Percentile | $59,164 |
| 90% Percentile | $53,720 |
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) also reports that salaries for Software Testers may vary depending on their industry. For instance, software testers working for manufacturing companies can earn up to $125,990, meanwhile software testers working for software publishers can only earn $99,050.
- Manufacturing: $125,990
- Administrative and support services: $102,620
- Finance and insurance: $101,920
- Computer systems design and related services: $99,720
- Software publishers: $99,050
Software Tester Salary: Hourly, Weekly, Monthly, and Yearly Breakdown
The average Software Tester salary can be broken down into hourly, weekly, monthly, and yearly amounts. According to Salary.com, the average salary for Software Testers in the United States is $23 per hour or $3,978 per month.
- Average salary per hour: $23
- Average salary per week: $918
- Average salary per month: $3,978
- Average salary per year: $47,740
As previously noted, Software Testers in the United States will find that their salary may vary due to key factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and education. These factors will be explored in detail below.
How Experience Impacts Software Tester Salaries?
Aside from their educational background, certifications, and accreditations, their level of experience also plays a vital role in increasing the salary for Software Testers. As shown in the list below, there are notable salary differences across various experience levels of Software Testers in the United States.
Based on the Salary.com data, the difference between an entry-level Software Testers' salary and an expert-level Software Tester's salary is almost $2,464. This also shows a sizeable gap between the salaries of an intermediate-level Software Tester, and a senior-level Software Tester's pay is at $47,313 and $49,275, respectively.
- Entry Level Software Tester: $47,313
- Intermediate Level Software Tester: $48,372
- Senior Level Software Tester: $49,275
- Specialist Level Software Tester: $49,546
- Expert Level Software Tester: $49,727
State-by-State Breakdown of Average Salaries for Software Tester
It can also be noted that each US state has different average salaries for Software Testers due to several factors such as cost of living, industry performance, and demand.
Based on the Salary.com data, the District of Columbia offers the highest average annual salary for Software Testers in the United States at $52,860. The next ones are California and Massachusetts with $52,660 and $51,960 per year, respectively.
| State | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $51,680 |
| Alabama | $43,860 |
| Arkansas | $43,130 |
| Arizona | $46,520 |
| California | $52,660 |
| Colorado | $48,710 |
| Connecticut | $51,020 |
| District of Columbia | $52,860 |
| Delaware | $48,350 |
| Florida | $45,180 |
| Georgia | $46,050 |
| Hawaii | $49,900 |
| Iowa | $45,690 |
| Idaho | $44,570 |
| Illinois | $48,670 |
| Indiana | $45,830 |
| Kansas | $45,460 |
| Kentucky | $44,930 |
| Louisiana | $45,400 |
| Massachusetts | $51,960 |
| Maryland | $49,230 |
| Maine | $46,550 |
| Michigan | $47,020 |
| Minnesota | $48,860 |
| Missouri | $45,360 |
| Mississippi | $42,580 |
| Montana | $45,080 |
| North Carolina | $45,370 |
| North Dakota | $47,160 |
| Nebraska | $44,980 |
| New Hampshire | $48,270 |
| New Jersey | $51,750 |
| New Mexico | $44,220 |
| Nevada | $47,250 |
| New York | $50,760 |
| Ohio | $46,490 |
| Oklahoma | $44,150 |
| Oregon | $48,480 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,530 |
| Rhode Island | $49,500 |
| South Carolina | $44,740 |
| South Dakota | $43,390 |
| Tennessee | $44,620 |
| Texas | $46,570 |
| Utah | $45,720 |
| Virginia | $48,080 |
| Vermont | $46,860 |
| Washington | $51,770 |
| Wisconsin | $46,970 |
| West Virginia | $42,990 |
| Wyoming | $45,790 |
Software Tester Salaries: Top Earning Cities Revealed
Salary.com labor statistics reveals that the top three highest paying cities that provides higher Software Tester salary in the United States are San Jose, San Francisco, and Oakland, all in the state of California.
| Top Paying Cities | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $60,220 |
| San Francisco, CA | $59,630 |
| Oakland, CA | $58,310 |
| New York, NY | $55,330 |
| Queens Village, NY | $54,970 |
| Paramus, NJ | $54,590 |
Explore Software Tester Benefits and Perks Beyond Salary
In addition to their pay, Software Testers receive a range of benefits and rewards. According to data from Salary.com, the total compensation for Software Testers includes benefits such as Social Security and 401(k)/403(b) plans. perform tasks
- Social Security
- 401K/403B plans
- Disability insurance
- Healthcare
- Pension plan
- Time Off (PTO)
Software Tester Job Description: Roles and Responsibilities
Software Testers are mainly responsible for testing a company's software and making sure that it works as intended. Additionally, they're also tasked with debugging programs and making sure that it runs properly
The job description for a Software Tester is as follows:
- Develop software testing strategies, scenarios, and procedures for new tools and identify problems that may arise.
- Assess potential project risks and propose effective mitigation strategies with the use of automated tests.
- Execute software testing through manual methods, automated tools, and exploratory approaches, then analyze outcomes.
- Record, track, and report software defects and issues for resolution by performing basic to complex performance testing.
- Deliver clear feedback to developers and stakeholders on usability, performance, and functionality.
When and How to Ask for a Raise as a Software Tester?
The job of a Software Tester usually requires an individual to have a degree in computer science or any other related field. However, it's important to note that some companies may hire Software Testers as long as they have a solid background in computer coding.
- That said, you can still boost your credibility through upskilling and learning some valuable skills for a higher Software Tester salary. Here is a step-by-step guide to follow to ask for a higher Software Tester salary:
- Finish the needed program: As mentioned above, most software testers need to have a degree in computer science, information technology, or any other related field. Thus, it's important for those interested in the role to acquire the role and negotiate a higher salary.
- Acquire the needed skills: Acquiring skills like system testing and Jira knowledge can help software testers negotiate higher salaries moving forward.
- Ask for a formal meeting: Prepare a meeting with your managers and employers beforehand to set a more formal and serious tone for the conversation.
- Make a clear and confident presentation: Discuss what you bring in the healthcare setting and make sure to highlight milestones you've achieved during your tenure as a software tester. Be clear about your intentions and maintain a positive mindset.
Why Does a Software Tester Make So Much?
The average Software Tester pay is good since the demand is relatively high for the role, and software testers usually do plenty when it comes to double checking whether or not the company's software runs seamlessly.
This means that being a Software Tester requires great analytical skills on top of stellar communication skills to help software developers. The U.S. BLS has outlined these specific skills that a Software Tester should ideally have:
- Analytical skills
- Communication skills
- Creativity
- Detail-oriented
- Problem-solving skills
However, Salary.com's Real-Time Job Posting Salary Data Solution has also pointed out that Software Testers with certain skills can earn more money. Candidates with system testing and Jira skills can earn 6.69% and 6.23% can negotiate a higher Software Tester salary and ensure competitive pay.
Other high compensation skills include the following:
- System Testing: +6.69%
- Jira: +6.23%
- Programming Languages: +5.77%
- Bug Tracking: +5.45%
- Cloud Platform: +5.41%
- Scrum: +5.37%
The Future of Software Tester: Job Outlook and Career Trends
Based on reports from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the job trend for Software Tester stands at a positive 15% for the years of 2023 to 2033. This is mainly because most businesses are shifting to digital software and are considered as quality assurance analysts to make sure that these tools run properly.
