Best cities for a tester
The best cities for testers are Columbus, OH, Raleigh, NC, and Fresno, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for testers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for testers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a tester or considering a move, this list of the best cities for testers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for testers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a tester. While the absolute best city for testers is Columbus, OH, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for testers in 2024.
If you're looking for a tester job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for testers in 2026
1. Columbus, OH
Total tester jobs: 57 Average annual salary: $65,296 Lowest 10 percent warn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $103,000 Location quotient: 3.71 2. Raleigh, NC
Total tester jobs: 32 Average annual salary: $62,373 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Location quotient: 3.56 3. Fresno, CA
Total tester jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $77,205 Lowest 10 percent warn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $133,000 Location quotient: 4.14 4. Sacramento, CA
Total tester jobs: 32 Average annual salary: $77,154 Lowest 10 percent warn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $133,000 Location quotient: 4.45 5. Cincinnati, OH
Total tester jobs: 22 Average annual salary: $63,319 Lowest 10 percent warn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location quotient: 2.95 6. El Paso, TX
Total tester jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $61,613 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $99,000 Location quotient: 6.10 7. Virginia Beach, VA
Total tester jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $69,898 Lowest 10 percent warn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $113,000 Location quotient: 3.03 8. Philadelphia, PA
Total tester jobs: 38 Average annual salary: $62,164 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $99,000 Location quotient: 2.28 9. Henderson, NV
Total tester jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $61,029 Lowest 10 percent warn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $103,000 Location quotient: 4.18 10. Detroit, MI
Total tester jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $63,851 Lowest 10 percent warn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location quotient: 2.06
Choose from 10+ customizable tester resume templates
Choose from a variety of easy-to-use tester resume templates and get expert advice from Zippia’s AI resume writer along the way. Using pre-approved templates, you can rest assured that the structure and format of your tester resume is top notch. Choose a template with the colors, fonts & text sizes that are appropriate for your industry.
Best cities for testers
- Columbus, OH
- Raleigh, NC
- Fresno, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- Cincinnati, OH
- El Paso, TX
- Virginia Beach, VA
- Philadelphia, PA
- Henderson, NV
- Detroit, MI
- (57 tester jobs)
- (32 tester jobs)
- (8 tester jobs)
- (32 tester jobs)
- (22 tester jobs)
- (12 tester jobs)
- (7 tester jobs)
- (38 tester jobs)
- (4 tester jobs)
- (15 tester jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a tester
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbus, OH | $65,296 | $41,000 | 860,090 | 57 |
| 2 | Raleigh, NC | $62,373 | $38,000 | 458,880 | 32 |
| 3 | Fresno, CA | $77,205 | $44,000 | 522,053 | 8 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $77,154 | $44,000 | 495,234 | 32 |
| 5 | Cincinnati, OH | $63,319 | $39,000 | 298,800 | 22 |
| 6 | El Paso, TX | $61,613 | $38,000 | 683,080 | 12 |
| 7 | Virginia Beach, VA | $69,898 | $43,000 | 452,602 | 7 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $62,164 | $38,000 | 1,567,872 | 38 |
| 9 | Henderson, NV | $61,029 | $35,000 | 292,969 | 4 |
| 10 | Detroit, MI | $63,851 | $40,000 | 672,795 | 15 |
| 11 | Jersey City, NJ | $70,825 | $44,000 | 264,152 | 33 |
| 12 | Charlotte, NC | $60,134 | $37,000 | 842,051 | 66 |
| 13 | Newark, NJ | $70,798 | $44,000 | 281,764 | 11 |
| 14 | Chesapeake, VA | $69,565 | $42,000 | 237,940 | 2 |
| 15 | Louisville, KY | $59,541 | $37,000 | 597,337 | 10 |
| 16 | Lexington, KY | $60,050 | $37,000 | 318,449 | 3 |
| 17 | Stockton, CA | $77,632 | $44,000 | 307,072 | 2 |
| 18 | Garland, TX | $58,032 | $36,000 | 234,943 | 2 |
| 19 | Norfolk, VA | $69,729 | $43,000 | 245,115 | 4 |
| 20 | Baltimore, MD | $75,728 | $47,000 | 614,664 | 16 |
| 21 | Irvine, CA | $73,617 | $43,000 | 266,122 | 22 |
| 22 | Durham, NC | $62,322 | $38,000 | 263,016 | 6 |
| 23 | Dallas, TX | $58,228 | $36,000 | 1,317,929 | 50 |
| 24 | Irving, TX | $58,181 | $36,000 | 238,289 | 33 |
| 25 | Plano, TX | $57,923 | $36,000 | 286,057 | 28 |
| 26 | Seattle, WA | $75,618 | $45,000 | 704,352 | 27 |
| 27 | Atlanta, GA | $60,546 | $37,000 | 472,522 | 68 |
| 28 | Reno, NV | $61,409 | $35,000 | 245,255 | 4 |
| 29 | Saint Petersburg, FL | $58,108 | $36,000 | 260,999 | 7 |
| 30 | San Francisco, CA | $78,481 | $45,000 | 870,887 | 33 |
| 31 | Austin, TX | $60,958 | $37,000 | 947,890 | 40 |
| 32 | Cleveland, OH | $66,895 | $42,000 | 385,809 | 3 |
| 33 | Buffalo, NY | $64,707 | $40,000 | 256,902 | 13 |
| 34 | Saint Paul, MN | $62,014 | $40,000 | 302,398 | 14 |
| 35 | Los Angeles, CA | $74,532 | $44,000 | 3,976,322 | 52 |
| 36 | Anaheim, CA | $73,942 | $43,000 | 351,043 | 3 |
| 37 | Oakland, CA | $78,358 | $45,000 | 420,005 | 3 |
| 38 | Fort Worth, TX | $58,375 | $36,000 | 854,113 | 11 |
| 39 | Toledo, OH | $66,146 | $41,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 40 | Greensboro, NC | $61,634 | $38,000 | 287,027 | 2 |
| 41 | San Jose, CA | $78,327 | $45,000 | 1,025,350 | 14 |
| 42 | Washington, DC | $70,336 | $43,000 | 681,170 | 58 |
| 43 | Houston, TX | $61,070 | $37,000 | 2,303,482 | 48 |
| 44 | Mesa, AZ | $56,645 | $34,000 | 484,587 | 4 |
| 45 | Fremont, CA | $78,317 | $45,000 | 233,136 | 2 |
| 46 | Chandler, AZ | $56,651 | $34,000 | 247,477 | 8 |
| 47 | Minneapolis, MN | $61,996 | $40,000 | 413,651 | 21 |
| 48 | San Antonio, TX | $61,549 | $38,000 | 1,492,510 | 10 |
| 49 | Pittsburgh, PA | $60,251 | $37,000 | 303,625 | 5 |
| 50 | Indianapolis, IN | $52,312 | $33,000 | 855,164 | 33 |
Highest paying cities for testers
| Rank | City | Avg. tester salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $78,481 |
| 2 | Baltimore, MD | $75,728 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $75,618 |
| 4 | Jersey City, NJ | $70,825 |
| 5 | Arlington, VA | $70,468 |
| 6 | Washington, DC | $70,336 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $67,292 |
| 8 | Dublin, OH | $65,319 |
| 9 | Schaumburg, IL | $64,778 |
| 10 | Raleigh, NC | $62,373 |
| 11 | Philadelphia, PA | $62,164 |
| 12 | Minneapolis, MN | $61,996 |
| 13 | Houston, TX | $61,070 |
| 14 | Alpharetta, GA | $60,604 |
| 15 | Denver, CO | $60,151 |
| 16 | Boston, MA | $58,656 |
| 17 | Portland, OR | $58,505 |
| 18 | Phoenix, AZ | $57,109 |
| 19 | Portland, ME | $56,155 |
| 20 | Salt Lake City, UT | $54,458 |
Tester best cities FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common computer and mathematical questions.
Search for tester jobs
Updated January 8, 2025