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As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a QA Manager in California is $141,690 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $68.
However, a QA Manager's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
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QA Manager Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $155,690 | $12,974 | $2,994 | $75 |
| Average | $141,690 | $11,808 | $2,725 | $68 |
| 25th Percentile | $128,290 | $10,691 | $2,467 | $62 |
LeadGenius - San Jose, CA
Field Talent - Fremont, CA
Field Talent - Alameda, CA
Field Talent - San Jose, CA
A QA Manager'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.
Experience is a primary driver of a QA Manager'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:
| Job Role | Years of Experience | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| QA Analyst IV | 7+ years | $138,870 |
| QA Analyst V | 7-10 years | $168,078 |
| QA Manager | 10+ years | $141,626 |
| Senior Manager of Quality Assurance | 10+ years | $179,340 |
| Director of Quality Assurance | 10+ years | $218,633 |
What Am I Worth?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract QA Managers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
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:
QA Manager salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $158,614. While startup companies pay approximate $134,184.
| Company Size | Employees | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Startup | 1~50 | $134,184 |
| Growth Stage | 51~500 | $141,915 |
| Established | 501~5000 | $153,170 |
| Enterprise | 5000+ | $158,614 |
For QA Manager roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 100% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Telecom and Aerospace & Defense sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, QA Manager positions in Transportation or Software & Networking typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view QA Manager as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Telecom | $212,535 | $102.0 | 50% |
Understanding how a QA Manager'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.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $155,690 | $12,974 | $2,994 | $75 |
| Average | $141,690 | $11,808 | $2,725 | $68 |
| 25th Percentile | $128,290 | $10,691 | $2,467 | $62 |
For a QA Manager, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Senior Manager of Quality Assurance role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $179,400 - a projected growth of 27% over your current level.
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current QA Manager job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
Field Talent
San Francisco, CA
Field Talent | San Francisco, CA
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Sunnyvale, CA
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Quality Control Supervisor. We are looking for an experienced. QA/QC Supervisor. to lead our Quality Assurance and Quality Control Project Team. This role ... more
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Sonoma, CA
Field Talent | Sonoma, CA
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Field Talent
Santa Clara, CA
Field Talent | Santa Clara, CA
Quality Control Supervisor. We are looking for an experienced. QA/QC Supervisor. to lead our Quality Assurance and Quality Control Project Team. This role ... more
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Field Talent
Hayward, CA
Field Talent | Hayward, CA
Quality Control Supervisor. We are looking for an experienced. QA/QC Supervisor. to lead our Quality Assurance and Quality Control Project Team. This role ... more
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Field Talent
Santa Rosa, CA
Field Talent | Santa Rosa, CA
Quality Control Supervisor. We are looking for an experienced. QA/QC Supervisor. to lead our Quality Assurance and Quality Control Project Team. This role ... more
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