Salaries › Software QA Tester › Kentucky
Software QA Tester Salary in Kentucky (2026)
$38.03 per hour · take-home ≈ $61,708/year ($5,142/month) for a single filer
Kentucky ranks 41st of 48 states for Software QA Tester pay, with a median about 28% below the national average. Of the 890 Software QA Tester jobs BLS counts in Kentucky, the typical worker earns $79,100 a year — though pay ranges from $44,290 for newcomers to $128,340 at the top.
Software QA Tester pay range in Kentucky
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $44,290 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $62,310 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $79,100 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $102,240 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $128,340 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 890 Software QA Tester jobs in Kentucky (occupation code 15-1253, “Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers”).
Gross vs. take-home in Kentucky
A median Software QA Tester salary of $79,100 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus Kentucky state income tax, a single filer keeps about $61,708 — an effective tax rate of 22.0%.
| Gross (median) | $79,100 |
| Federal income tax | −$8,572 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$6,051 |
| Kentucky state income tax | −$2,769 |
| Take-home (annual) | $61,708 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $5,142 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Kentucky paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Software QA Tester make in Kentucky?
- The median Software QA Tester salary in Kentucky is $79,100 per year ($38.03 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $62,310 and $102,240.
- What is the take-home pay for a Software QA Tester in Kentucky?
- On the median salary of $79,100, a single filer in Kentucky takes home about $61,708 per year ($5,142 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 22.0%.
- How many Software QA Tester jobs are there in Kentucky?
- BLS counts 890 Software QA Tester jobs in Kentucky in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Software QA Testers
Other salaries in Kentucky
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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky.