SOC 15-1253 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers — Illinois
Illinois · 6 metro areas compared
At $104,910, median pay for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers in Illinois tracks the national median of $104,300 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $104,910, median pay for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers in Illinois tracks the national median of $104,300 closely. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $83,020 and $130,290. The lowest tenth earn under $65,480, while the highest tenth earn more than $150,620.
Employment stands at 6,530, or 1.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 46 states with published data for this occupation, Illinois ranks 13th by median wage. Chicago leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $105,580. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 107th of 747 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $65,480 | −37.2% |
| 25th | $83,020 | −20.4% |
| Median (50th) | $104,910 | +0.6% |
| 75th | $130,290 | +24.9% |
| 90th | $150,620 | +44.4% |
| Mean | $107,950 | +3.5% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Illinois
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago | $105,580 | 5,010 | |
| 2 | Bloomington | $102,070 | 240 | |
| 3 | Springfield | $96,800 | 50 | |
| 4 | Peoria | $96,700 | 80 | |
| 5 | Rockford | $96,020 | 40 | |
| 6 | Champaign | $86,130 | 80 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Illinois sit close to the national average, so $104,910 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$104,910as reported by BLSLocal price level
100.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$104,910US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $104,910 a year, 0.6% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $65,480 to $150,620 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 6,530 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 13th of 46 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Chicago, at $105,580.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers in Illinois?
The median annual wage is $104,910, or $50.44 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $104,300, so pay in Illinois is 0.6% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Illinois earns more than $150,620 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $65,480 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Chicago, at $105,580 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 6,530 jobs in this occupation in Illinois. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
Explore related data