Prevailing Wage for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers
Prevailing wage for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers (SOC 15-1253) sets the minimum salary a U.S. employer must pay when sponsoring a QA Engineer, Automation Tester, or Quality Assurance Analyst for an H-1B, E-3, or green card. DOL assigns four experience-based wage levels, and the floor shifts considerably depending on where the worksite is located.
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Entry-level QA professionals new to independent test execution. Typically fewer than two years of experience, working under direct supervision on defined test scripts with limited ownership of test plans or defect triage strategy.
The most common filing level for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers. Applies to professionals who independently design test cases, manage a bug tracking workflow, and have two to four years of hands-on QA experience without lead or mentoring responsibilities.
Experienced QA professionals who own test strategy across a product area, mentor junior testers, or specialize in automation frameworks. Typically five or more years of experience with measurable scope over software release quality decisions.
Senior or lead QA scope: setting testing standards across teams, signing off on release readiness, or directing quality assurance programs organization-wide. Often involves cross-functional influence over product design reviews and engineering processes.
Prevailing Wage for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for this role and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
Search visa-sponsored jobsPrevailing Wage Guide for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers
Watch for title aliasing on your LCA
Job postings often use titles like Quality Engineer or IT Analyst that employers may file under a different SOC, shifting the prevailing wage floor. Confirm your LCA lists SOC 15-1253 so the wage certified actually covers your Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers role.
Exclude equity and bonuses from your wage floor check
QA roles at FAANG and mid-size tech companies frequently bundle RSUs and performance bonuses into total compensation packages. DOL prevailing wage compliance is measured against base salary only, so a low base with high equity does not satisfy the floor.
Compare San Jose wages before accepting a remote offer
San Jose Level 1 wages run well above the national Level 3 median for this occupation. If your employer designates a lower-cost worksite on the LCA to reduce their wage obligation, confirm the certified worksite actually matches where you will work.
Find sponsors with a QA hiring track record
Migrate Mate shows which employers have historically sponsored Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers, so you can prioritize companies that have filed H-1B or green card petitions for this occupation before rather than guessing from a job posting alone.
Jobs for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 15-1253.00 alongside Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Automation Tester Prevailing Wage
Automation Tester Prevailing Wage
Automation Tester positions fall under SOC 15-1253.00 (Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Information Technology Analyst (IT Analyst) Prevailing Wage
Information Technology Analyst (IT Analyst) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Information Technology Analyst (IT Analyst) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 15-1253.00 (Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Quality Assurance Analyst (QA Analyst) Prevailing Wage
Quality Assurance Analyst (QA Analyst) Prevailing Wage
Quality Assurance Analyst (QA Analyst) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 15-1253.00 (Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Quality Assurance Engineer (QA Engineer) Prevailing Wage
Quality Assurance Engineer (QA Engineer) Prevailing Wage
Quality Assurance Engineer (QA Engineer) positions fall under SOC 15-1253.00 (Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Quality Engineer Prevailing Wage
Quality Engineer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Quality Engineer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 15-1253.00 (Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Software Quality Assurance Analyst (SQA Analyst) Prevailing Wage
Software Quality Assurance Analyst (SQA Analyst) Prevailing Wage
Software Quality Assurance Analyst (SQA Analyst) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 15-1253.00 (Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Software Quality Assurance Engineer (SQA Engineer) Prevailing Wage
Software Quality Assurance Engineer (SQA Engineer) Prevailing Wage
Software Quality Assurance Engineer (SQA Engineer) positions fall under SOC 15-1253.00 (Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Software Quality Engineer Prevailing Wage
Software Quality Engineer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Software Quality Engineer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 15-1253.00 (Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Software Test Engineer Prevailing Wage
Software Test Engineer Prevailing Wage
Software Test Engineer is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 15-1253.00 (Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Test Engineer Prevailing Wage
Test Engineer Prevailing Wage
Test Engineer positions fall under SOC 15-1253.00 (Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics through employer surveys across roughly 530 metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. For each area, DOL calculates four wage levels tied to experience and job complexity under SOC 15-1253. Employers certify the applicable level on the Labor Condition Application through OFLC before filing a visa petition with USCIS.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
Level 1 covers entry-level positions with close supervision and limited independent judgment. Level 2, the most common filing level for QA roles, applies to qualified professionals working independently on test design and defect management. Level 3 covers experienced professionals with strategic or mentoring responsibilities. Level 4 applies to senior or lead scope with organization-wide quality oversight. Your employer selects the level based on the actual duties in the LCA job description, not your job title.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same QA role vary so much by city?
DOL derives wages from regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so each metro area reflects local employer pay practices for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers. Dense tech markets like San Jose and San Francisco have high concentrations of well-funded employers that drive surveyed wages up significantly. The LCA must list the actual worksite, so if your employer designates a low-cost city to reduce wage obligations while you work elsewhere, that creates a compliance problem.
What happens if an employer offers a salary below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An LCA certifying a wage below the applicable DOL prevailing wage level will not survive OFLC review, and USCIS can deny or revoke the H-1B petition if the certified wage does not match actual pay. Employers may also face DOL back-wage liability and debarment from future sponsorship if an audit uncovers underpayment. The floor is a hard legal requirement, not a negotiating reference point.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific U.S. location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up the current DOL wage for SOC 15-1253 in any metro area. Enter the occupational code and select the metropolitan statistical area that matches your worksite address. Cross-check with O*NET for occupation details and job zone classification. If an employer has already filed an LCA, OFLC disclosure data shows the certified wage level and worksite city used in that filing.
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