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Intermediate Quality Assurance Engineer Salary in California

How much does an Intermediate Quality Assurance Engineer make in California?

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for an Intermediate Quality Assurance Engineer in California is $98,300 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $47.

However, an Intermediate Quality Assurance Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $114,348
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $92,300 to $106,700
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $86,837
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View as table View as graph 25% $92,300 10% $86,837 90% $114,348 75% $106,700 $98,300 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Intermediate Quality Assurance Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $106,700 $8,892 $2,052 $51
Average $98,300 $8,192 $1,890 $47
25th Percentile $92,300 $7,692 $1,775 $44
Check out Intermediate Quality Assurance Engineer Job Openings in California
Software Quality Assurance Engineer

ID.me - Mountain View, CA

Software Quality Assurance Engineer

Eliassen Group - San Diego, CA

Quality Assurance Engineer II

Nevada Heat Treating LLC - Newark, CA

Senior Quality Assurance Engineer

Pointwest Technologies Corp - Los Angeles, CA

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Key Factors That Influence Intermediate Quality Assurance Engineer Salaries

An Intermediate Quality Assurance Engineer's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Intermediate Quality Assurance Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Intermediate Quality Assurance Engineer's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry Quality Assurance Engineer (0-2 years): $83,486
  • Intermediate Quality Assurance Engineer (2-4 years): $98,260
  • QA/Validation Engineer III (4-7 years): $111,137
  • QA/Validation Engineer IV (7+ years): $138,217
  • Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer (7-10 years): $165,837
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Entry Quality Assurance Engineer0-2 years$83,486
Intermediate Quality Assurance Engineer2-4 years$98,260
QA/Validation Engineer III4-7 years$111,137
QA/Validation Engineer IV7+ years$138,217
Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer7-10 years$165,837
$83,486 Entry Qua...
$98,260 Intermedi...
$111,137 QA/Valida...
$138,217 QA/Valida...
$165,837 Expert/Co...
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Intermediate Quality Assurance Engineers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • Los Angeles: $98,500
  • West Hollywood: $98,400
  • Dodgertown: $98,500

Intermediate Quality Assurance Engineer Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Intermediate Quality Assurance Engineer salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $109,948. While startup companies pay approximate $92,983.

Intermediate Quality Assurance Engineer Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup1~50$92,983
Growth Stage51~500$98,344
Established501~5000$106,176
Enterprise5000+$109,948

Intermediate Quality Assurance Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Intermediate Quality Assurance Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Intermediate Quality Assurance Engineer positions in Transportation or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Intermediate Quality Assurance Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Intermediate Quality Assurance Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$117,960$57.020%
Biotechnology$117,960$57.020%
Financial Services$117,960$57.020%
Pharmaceuticals$117,960$57.020%
Software & Networking$117,960$57.020%

Intermediate Quality Assurance Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Intermediate Quality Assurance Engineer's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

  • Yearly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Hourly
  • Table View
Last Updated on July 01, 2026
$92,300
Average $98,300/year
$106,700
$7,692
Average $8,192/month
$8,892
$1,775
Average $1,890/week
$2,052
$44
Average $47/hour
$51
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $106,700 $8,892 $2,052 $51
Average $98,300 $8,192 $1,890 $47
25th Percentile $92,300 $7,692 $1,775 $44

Intermediate Quality Assurance Engineer Salary Growth & Career Path

Intermediate Quality Assurance Engineer
QA/Validation Engineer III
QA/Validation Engineer IV

For an Intermediate Quality Assurance Engineer, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the QA/Validation Engineer III role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $111,200 - a projected growth of 13% over your current level.

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