Prevailing wage, wage year 2025-26
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers prevailing wage in Portland-South Portland, ME
Short answer
For software quality assurance analysts and testers in Portland-South Portland, ME, the U.S. Department of Labor prevailing wage runs from $27.95 an hour at Level 1 ($58,136 a year) to $50.80 an hour at Level 4 ($105,664 a year), wage year 2025-26. The Level 2 wage of $35.57 ranks 343 of 530 areas and is 6% below the median area ($37.99).
Wage by level
| Wage level | Per hour | Per year | Per month | Per week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | $27.95 | $58,136 | $4,845 | $1,118 |
| Level 2 | $35.57 | $73,986 | $6,166 | $1,423 |
| Level 3 | $43.18 | $89,814 | $7,485 | $1,727 |
| Level 4 | $50.80 | $105,664 | $8,805 | $2,032 |
| Published average | $43.26 | $89,981 | $7,498 | $1,730 |
Annual = hourly x 2080 hours, the convention DOL uses. Weekly = hourly x 40. Gross pay before tax. Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC), prevailing wage data, wage year 2025-26.
Minimum bill rate calculator
Start from the prevailing wage for this area, add your payroll costs and a margin.
Minimum wage
$35.57/hr
Prevailing wage for software quality assurance analysts and testers in Portland-South Portland, ME
Cost with payroll costs
$38.29/hr
$35.57 plus 7.65%
Bill rate for the margin
$45.05/hr
Cost divided by 0.85
Assumes the consultant is paid the prevailing wage for every billed hour, with no bench pay or other costs. Real pay is usually above the minimum. General information, not legal advice.
How Portland-South Portland, ME compares
Across 530 areas, the Level 2 wage for software quality assurance analysts and testers has a median of $37.99 an hour. Portland-South Portland, ME is at $35.57, which is 6% below that median and ranks 343 of 530. Inside ME, it ranks 1 of 5 areas. The gap between Level 1 and Level 4 here is 82% ($22.85 an hour), so the level a job is filed at changes the minimum pay by about $47,528 a year.
Other ME areas for the same occupation
| Area | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lewiston-Auburn, ME | $27.14 | $34.59 | $49.50 |
| Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | $24.80 | $31.67 | $45.40 |
| Bangor, ME | $25.22 | $31.66 | $44.54 |
| Northeast Maine nonmetropolitan area | $25.22 | $31.66 | $44.54 |
Reading the four levels
In Portland-South Portland, ME, moving a software quality assurance analysts and testers role from Level 1 to Level 2 adds $7.62 an hour (27%), from Level 2 to Level 3 adds $7.61 (21%), and from Level 3 to Level 4 adds $7.62 (18%). The steps are fairly even, so the level filed moves the minimum pay by a similar amount at each rung. At Level 1 the minimum is $4,845 a month gross; at Level 4 it is $8,805.
Areas with a Level 2 wage close to $35.57
These are the 6 areas anywhere in the country whose software quality assurance analysts and testers Level 2 wage is nearest to this one. Use them when a requirement could be worked from several places and you want the wage floor to stay about the same.
| Area | Level 2 per hour | Difference from here |
|---|---|---|
| Gainesville, FL | $35.54 | -$0.03 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $35.61 | +$0.04 |
| Syracuse, NY | $35.62 | +$0.05 |
| Grand Island, NE | $35.50 | -$0.07 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $35.67 | +$0.10 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $35.67 | +$0.10 |
ME and this occupation
ME has 5 areas in the data. The state median Level 2 wage for software quality assurance analysts and testers is $31.67 an hour, and Portland-South Portland, ME is at or above it. The highest area in ME is Portland-South Portland, ME at $35.57, and the lowest is Northeast Maine nonmetropolitan area at $31.66.
Among IT occupations here
In Portland-South Portland, ME, software quality assurance analysts and testers ranks 12 of 16 IT occupations by Level 2 wage. The highest is computer and information research scientists at $57.86 an hour and the lowest is computer user support specialists at $26.38.
What this means for your desk
- At Level 2 the consultant must be paid at least $73,986 a year, or $6,166 a month gross, for work in Portland-South Portland, ME.
- Your bill rate must cover that wage plus payroll costs and margin: try $35.57 an hour in the W2 burden rate calculator and the markup and margin calculator.
Which level applies, and what an LCA means, is explained on the prevailing wage guide. Not legal advice.
Other occupations in Portland-South Portland, ME
| Occupation | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Systems Analysts | $34.59 | $40.82 | $53.28 |
| Information Security Analysts | $31.68 | $39.52 | $55.21 |
| Computer and Information Research Scientists | $42.64 | $57.86 | $88.29 |
| Computer Network Support Specialists | $25.05 | $29.01 | $36.93 |
| Computer User Support Specialists | $23.35 | $26.38 | $32.43 |
| Computer Network Architects | $38.05 | $45.11 | $59.22 |
| Database Administrators | $27.85 | $35.66 | $51.28 |
| Database Architects | $40.33 | $49.33 | $67.34 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $31.34 | $37.19 | $48.90 |
| Computer Programmers | $34.76 | $48.93 | $77.27 |
| Software Developers | $41.22 | $49.97 | $67.48 |
| Web Developers | $23.76 | $31.49 | $46.94 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $25.40 | $33.89 | $50.86 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $35.61 | $44.76 | $63.06 |
| Data Scientists | $33.93 | $42.24 | $58.85 |
Questions
What is the prevailing wage for software quality assurance analysts and testers in Portland-South Portland, ME?
$27.95, $35.57, $43.18 and $50.80 an hour for Levels 1 to 4, with a published average of $43.26, in wage year 2025-26. Multiply by 2080 hours for the annual figure.
How much more does Level 4 pay than Level 1 in Portland-South Portland, ME?
$22.85 more an hour, or $47,528 more a year (82% above Level 1).
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