Salaries › Software QA Tester › Illinois
Software QA Tester Salary in Illinois (2026)
$50.44 per hour · take-home ≈ $77,441/year ($6,453/month) for a single filer
Illinois ranks 13th of 48 states for Software QA Tester pay, with a median about 4% below the national average. Of the 6,530 Software QA Tester jobs BLS counts in Illinois, the typical worker earns $104,910 a year — though pay ranges from $65,480 for newcomers to $150,620 at the top.
Software QA Tester pay range in Illinois
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $65,480 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $83,020 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $104,910 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $130,290 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $150,620 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 6,530 Software QA Tester jobs in Illinois (occupation code 15-1253, “Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers”).
Gross vs. take-home in Illinois
A median Software QA Tester salary of $104,910 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus Illinois state income tax, a single filer keeps about $77,441 — an effective tax rate of 26.2%.
| Gross (median) | $104,910 |
| Federal income tax | −$14,250 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$8,026 |
| Illinois state income tax | −$5,193 |
| Take-home (annual) | $77,441 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $6,453 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Illinois paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Software QA Tester make in Illinois?
- The median Software QA Tester salary in Illinois is $104,910 per year ($50.44 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $83,020 and $130,290.
- What is the take-home pay for a Software QA Tester in Illinois?
- On the median salary of $104,910, a single filer in Illinois takes home about $77,441 per year ($6,453 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 26.2%.
- How many Software QA Tester jobs are there in Illinois?
- BLS counts 6,530 Software QA Tester jobs in Illinois in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Software QA Testers
Other salaries in Illinois
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified Illinois state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for Illinois.