SOC 15-1253 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers — Iowa
Iowa · 7 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Iowa is $88,590 a year, trailing the national median of $104,300 by 15.1%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Iowa is $88,590 a year, trailing the national median of $104,300 by 15.1%. Half of workers earn between $76,270 and $105,930. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $55,640 and the ninetieth at $126,290.
The area has 1,000 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.6 of every thousand jobs. Among the 46 states with published data for this occupation, Iowa ranks 34th by median wage. Davenport leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $108,040. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 115th of 711 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $55,640 | −46.7% |
| 25th | $76,270 | −26.9% |
| Median (50th) | $88,590 | −15.1% |
| 75th | $105,930 | +1.6% |
| 90th | $126,290 | +21.1% |
| Mean | $91,640 | −12.1% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Iowa
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Davenport | $108,040 | 180 | |
| 2 | Dubuque | $100,170 | 40 | |
| 3 | Des Moines | $98,190 | 440 | |
| 4 | Ames | $96,560 | 40 | |
| 5 | Waterloo | $84,920 | 90 | |
| 6 | Cedar Rapids | $84,270 | 110 | |
| 7 | Iowa City | $75,330 | 30 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Iowa run 12.2% below the national average, so the median of $88,590 goes as far as $100,900 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 3.3% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$88,590as reported by BLSLocal price level
87.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$100,900US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $88,590 a year, 15.1% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $55,640 to $126,290 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,000 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 34th of 46 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Davenport, at $108,040.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers in Iowa?
The median annual wage is $88,590, or $42.59 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 Iowa is 15.1% lower. 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 Iowa earns more than $126,290 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $55,640 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 Davenport, at $108,040 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,000 jobs in this occupation in Iowa. 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.
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