Salary AI Book a Demo
upper level job

Quality Assurance Testing Model Engineer III Salary in California

How much does a Quality Assurance Testing Model Engineer III make in California?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Quality Assurance Testing Model Engineer III in California is $111,140 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $53.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $129,385
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $102,780 to $120,690
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $95,169
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
AI Onboarding
AI-Powered HR
Salary Salary + Bonus Benefits
Paid Annually Paid Monthly Paid Semimonthly Paid Biweekly Paid Weekly Paid Hourly
View as table View as graph 25% $102,780 10% $95,169 90% $129,385 75% $120,690 $111,140 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Quality Assurance Testing Model Engineer III Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $120,690 $10,058 $2,321 $58
Average $111,140 $9,262 $2,137 $53
25th Percentile $102,780 $8,565 $1,977 $49
Check out Quality Assurance Testing Model Engineer III Job Openings in California
Vice President of Quality Assurance

Confidential - MINNEAPOLIS, MN

Vice President of Quality Assurance

Confidential - COLORADO SPRINGS, CO

Associate Vice President of Quality Assurance

Confidential - ROSEMONT, IL

Vice President Surveillance Quality Assurance

Confidential - NEW YORK, NY

Search More Quality Assurance Testing Model Engineer III Jobs in California
Select State
Select City in CA
Choose Similar Job
Choose Category
Cost of Living
Average Salary for United States
See it in Action

Key Factors That Influence Quality Assurance Testing Model Engineer III Salaries

A Quality Assurance Testing Model Engineer III'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 Quality Assurance Testing Model Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Quality Assurance Testing Model Engineer III'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): $83,483
  • Intermediate Quality Assurance Engineer (2-4 years): $98,257
  • Quality Assurance Testing Model Engineer III (4-7 years): $111,135
  • QA/Validation Engineer IV (7+ years): $138,222
  • Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer (7-10 years): $165,838
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Entry Quality Assurance Engineer0-2 years$83,483
Intermediate Quality Assurance Engineer2-4 years$98,257
Quality Assurance Testing Model Engineer III4-7 years$111,135
QA/Validation Engineer IV7+ years$138,222
Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer7-10 years$165,838
$83,483 Entry Qua...
$98,257 Intermedi...
$111,135 Quality A...
$138,222 QA/Valida...
$165,838 Expert/Co...
View as Table
View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Quality Assurance Testing Model Engineer IIIs

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: $111,330
  • West Hollywood: $111,250
  • Dodgertown: $111,330

Quality Assurance Testing Model Engineer III Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Quality Assurance Testing Model Engineer III salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $124,415. While startup companies pay approximate $105,252.

Quality Assurance Testing Model Engineer III Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup1~50$105,252
Growth Stage51~500$111,316
Established501~5000$120,145
Enterprise5000+$124,415

Quality Assurance Testing Model Engineer III Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Quality Assurance Testing Model Engineer III 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 Aerospace & Defense and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, Quality Assurance Testing Model Engineer positions in Transportation or Telecom typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Quality Assurance Testing Model Engineer III as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Quality Assurance Testing Model Engineer III

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$166,710$80.050%

Quality Assurance Testing Model Engineer III Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Quality Assurance Testing Model Engineer III'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 August 01, 2026
$102,780
Average $111,140/year
$120,690
$8,565
Average $9,262/month
$10,058
$1,977
Average $2,137/week
$2,321
$49
Average $53/hour
$58
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $120,690 $10,058 $2,321 $58
Average $111,140 $9,262 $2,137 $53
25th Percentile $102,780 $8,565 $1,977 $49

Quality Assurance Testing Model Engineer III Salary Growth & Career Path

Quality Assurance Testing Model Engineer III
QA/Validation Engineer IV
Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer

For a Quality Assurance Testing Model Engineer III, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the QA/Validation Engineer IV role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $138,300 - a projected growth of 24% over your current level.

Salaries of jobs related to Quality Assurance Testing Model Engineer III

Find Your Next Quality Assurance Testing Model Engineer III Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Quality Assurance Testing Model Engineer III job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States

  • Confidential

    LOS ANGELES, CA

    Vice President of Food Safety&Quality Assurance

    Confidential | LOS ANGELES, CA

    Vice President of Food Safety & Quality Assurance. About the Company. A rapidly growing food and beverage manufacturer. Industry. Food & Beverages. Type. P... more

    1 Day Ago

  • Confidential

    FREMONT, CA

    Vice President of Food Safety&Quality Assurance

    Confidential | FREMONT, CA

    Vice President of Food Safety & Quality Assurance. About the Company. A rapidly growing food and beverage manufacturer. Industry. Food & Beverages. Type. P... more

    3 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    WALNUT CREEK, CA

    Vice President Food Safety&Quality Assurance

    Confidential | WALNUT CREEK, CA

    Vice President, Food Safety & Quality Assurance. About the Company. A rapidly growing food and beverage manufacturer ensuring safe, high-quality products. ... more

    14 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    WALNUT CREEK, CA

    Vice President of Food Safety&Quality Assurance

    Confidential | WALNUT CREEK, CA

    Vice President of Food Safety & Quality Assurance. About the Company. A rapidly growing food and beverage manufacturer. Industry. Food & Beverages. Type. P... more

    14 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    SAN FRANCISCO, CA

    Vice President of Food Safety&Quality Assurance

    Confidential | SAN FRANCISCO, CA

    Vice President of Food Safety & Quality Assurance. About the Company. A rapidly growing food and beverage manufacturer. Industry. Food & Beverages. Type. P... more

    29 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    SACRAMENTO, CA

    Vice President of Food Safety&Quality Assurance

    Confidential | SACRAMENTO, CA

    Vice President of Food Safety & Quality Assurance. About the Company. A rapidly growing food and beverage manufacturer. Industry. Food & Beverages. Type. P... more

    29 Days Ago

For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Price My Industry Jobs

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Cost of Living In California

Cost of Living in California is
10.3% Higher
than the National Average

Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.

Explore Cost of Living Calculator
Empower Your Team

Salary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.

Find Salary.com Comp Consulting
See Salary Trends in 2025

Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.

Price Your Company Jobs and Make Pay Fair

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst
lower level job