Hiring a software quality assurance analyst in Seattle, WA

Do Seattle residents in computer and mathematical work earn more than employers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA area pay?

Seattle residents working in computer and mathematical occupations earn a median of $151,431 (Census ACS 5-year 2023, tables S2401 and B24011), against $133,435 as the median of the 20 wages BLS publishes for that same occupation group in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA area (BLS OEWS, May 2025), a difference of 13%, with the residents figure the higher of the two.

Both sides of that figure describe the whole computer and mathematical group, not this one role. In the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA area the group covers 20 occupations BLS publishes a wage for, from mathematical science occupations, all other at $72,710 to computer and information research scientists at $211,270 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), with software quality assurance analysts and testers at $129,690 inside it.

That comparison is between two different measures, not a pay gap. The two weight the same occupation group differently: the Census figure is the midpoint across the people who actually hold those jobs, so a group carrying a few very well paid occupations is pulled toward them, while the BLS figure is the midpoint across the 20 published occupation wages, which counts each of those occupations once whatever its headcount. Census also counts where people live and BLS counts where the jobs are, and the two cover different populations, Census the civilian employed population 16 and over, BLS wage-and-salary jobs only. Read the number against other cities, where the same definitional difference applies on both sides, rather than as a shortfall.

Residents here out-earn the midpoint of what the metro pays across this group, which usually points to people commuting out to better-paying employers. Expect a Seattle offer in this field to compete with a drive, not only with the firm down the road.

Is the talent actually in Seattle?

This is a job zone four: considerable preparation needed occupation. Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not. O*NET OnLine, SOC 15-1253.

That matters here, because 67.5% of Seattle adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. That is a deep local pool for a degree-requiring role. Census ACS 5-year 2023, table S1501, residents of Seattle aged 25 and over.

The average Seattle commute runs 26.6 minutes, which is roughly how far your catchment reaches before candidates start saying no. 31.3% of Seattle workers already work from home, so a fully onsite requirement here is competing against that. Census ACS 5-year 2023, place-level commuting characteristics for Seattle.

How often do these jobs turn over?

In King County, computer systems design and related services employs 52,229 and turns over 7.8% a quarter, with 4,871 hires against 4,685 separations. Average earnings in that industry run $17,848 a month. Census LEHD Quarterly Workforce Indicators, 2024 Q1, NAICS 5415.

That figure covers every occupation in the industry, not this role alone, so read it as the local churn rate rather than as a number about software quality assurance analysts and testers. It still tells you what you are hiring into: a normal churn rate, where a well-run search closes on schedule.

What does the search cost?

The fee is set by the seniority of the role, never by salary and never by location. Across all six tiers it runs $6,240 to $54,340 per search. A contingency firm hiring at this role's $129,690 median in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA area (BLS OEWS, May 2025) would bill roughly $25,938 to $38,907 on the first year salary alone.

One owner runs the search from market map to signed offer. Searches typically fill in 23 to 35 days, which is a typical window rather than a promise, and the replacement guarantee runs 45 days at 50% off.

Questions employers ask about hiring a software quality assurance analyst in Seattle

What does it cost to hire a software quality assurance analyst in Seattle?

Tier I to Tier VI, $6,240 to $54,340 per search, set by the seniority of the role and never by salary or location. A contingency firm billing 20 to 30% of this role's $129,690 median wage in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA area (BLS OEWS, May 2025) would charge roughly $25,938 to $38,907 on the first year salary alone.

What should an offer for a software quality assurance analyst in Seattle look like?

Employers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA area pay software quality assurance analysts and testers a median of $129,690, with the middle half of the market between $98,410 and $168,210 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A band set below $98,410 competes for the bottom quarter of that market.

Do Seattle residents in computer and mathematical work earn more than employers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA area pay?

Seattle residents working in computer and mathematical occupations earn a median of $151,431 (Census ACS 5-year 2023, tables S2401 and B24011), against $133,435 as the median of the 20 wages BLS publishes for that same occupation group in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA area (BLS OEWS, May 2025), a difference of 13%. Both figures cover the whole occupation group rather than this one role, and one counts where people live while the other counts where the jobs are, so the percentage is not a pay gap.

Is the talent for this role already in Seattle?

This is a job zone 4 occupation, which usually calls for a bachelor's degree, and 67.5% of Seattle adults hold one or higher (Census ACS 5-year 2023, table S1501). That is a deep local pool for a degree-requiring role.

Related

• Hiring Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers: the role, the pay, the process
• Recruiting services in Seattle
• Every Washington city we cover

Seattle is the largest of 3 Washington cities in this dataset.