Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers salary in California
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers in California earn a median of $128,740 a year ($61.89 an hour), based on BLS data for 27,710 workers.
Pay ranges from $65,890 for the lowest-paid 10% to $201,070 for the top 10%. That is 23% higher than the national median of $104,300. California ranks 1st of 46 states for software quality assurance analysts and testers pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 1.5 software quality assurance analysts and testers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $131,260, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for software quality assurance analysts and testers in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $65,890 | $31.68 |
| 25th percentile | $93,530 | $44.96 |
| Median | $128,740 | $61.89 |
| 75th percentile | $165,530 | $79.58 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $201,070 | $96.67 |
| Average (mean) | $131,260 | $63.11 |
Half of software quality assurance analysts and testers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $10,728.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,364.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,951.54 |
| Weekly | $2,475.77 |
| Hourly | $61.89 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $166,530 | 6,480 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $134,630 | 5,880 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $133,970 | 100 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $124,400 | 80 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $122,210 | 7,200 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $120,210 | 2,280 |
| Vallejo, CA | $115,710 | 40 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $113,680 | 290 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $110,640 | 230 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $105,720 | 450 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $104,410 | 930 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $101,720 | 90 |
| Fresno, CA | $94,350 | 100 |
| Modesto, CA | $87,650 | 40 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $83,290 | 180 |
Highest-paying states for software quality assurance analysts and testers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $128,740 |
| Washington | $128,480 |
| Colorado | $123,690 |
| Massachusetts | $122,210 |
| Virginia | $121,590 |
| New York | $121,240 |
| New Jersey | $119,470 |
| New Mexico | $116,580 |
| Maryland | $111,100 |
| Oregon | $108,440 |
See Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers pay in every state.
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | $174,410 | $83.85 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $134,440 | $64.63 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $79,570 | $38.25 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $127,720 | $61.40 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $136,110 | $65.44 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $106,440 | $51.18 |
| Information Security Analyst | $138,570 | $66.62 |
| Computer Network Architect | $158,870 | $76.38 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $79,190 | $38.07 |
| Computer Programmer | $116,760 | $56.13 |
| Computer and Information Research Scientists | $159,100 | $76.49 |
| Web Developer | $119,570 | $57.48 |
| Database Administrator | $113,060 | $54.35 |
| Database Architect | $170,160 | $81.81 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 15-1253. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a software quality assurance analysts and testers make in California?
The median salary for software quality assurance analysts and testers in California is $128,740 a year, or $61.89 an hour. Pay ranges from $65,890 for the lowest-paid 10% to $201,070 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid software quality assurance analysts and testers make in California?
The top 10% of software quality assurance analysts and testers in California earn at least $201,070 a year. The top 25% earn $165,530 or more.
What is the starting pay for software quality assurance analysts and testers in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $65,890 a year, and a quarter of software quality assurance analysts and testers earn $93,530 or less.
How many software quality assurance analysts and testers work in California?
About 27,710 software quality assurance analysts and testers are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.