Salaries › Software QA Tester › North Carolina
Software QA Tester Salary in North Carolina (2026)
$48.27 per hour · take-home ≈ $75,958/year ($6,330/month) for a single filer
North Carolina ranks 23rd of 48 states for Software QA Tester pay, with a median about 8% below the national average. Of the 8,890 Software QA Tester jobs BLS counts in North Carolina, the typical worker earns $100,390 a year — though pay ranges from $61,190 for newcomers to $148,710 at the top.
Software QA Tester pay range in North Carolina
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $61,190 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $74,250 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $100,390 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $128,190 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $148,710 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 8,890 Software QA Tester jobs in North Carolina (occupation code 15-1253, “Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers”).
Gross vs. take-home in North Carolina
A median Software QA Tester salary of $100,390 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus North Carolina state income tax, a single filer keeps about $75,958 — an effective tax rate of 24.3%.
| Gross (median) | $100,390 |
| Federal income tax | −$13,256 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$7,680 |
| North Carolina state income tax | −$3,497 |
| Take-home (annual) | $75,958 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $6,330 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free North Carolina paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Software QA Tester make in North Carolina?
- The median Software QA Tester salary in North Carolina is $100,390 per year ($48.27 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $74,250 and $128,190.
- What is the take-home pay for a Software QA Tester in North Carolina?
- On the median salary of $100,390, a single filer in North Carolina takes home about $75,958 per year ($6,330 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 24.3%.
- How many Software QA Tester jobs are there in North Carolina?
- BLS counts 8,890 Software QA Tester jobs in North Carolina in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Software QA Testers
Other salaries in North Carolina
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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina.