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Specialist Quality Assurance Engineer Salary in California

How much does a Specialist Quality Assurance Engineer make in California?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Specialist Quality Assurance Engineer in California is $138,213 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $66.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $153,510
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $127,472 to $146,220
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $117,693
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View as table View as graph 25% $127,472 10% $117,693 90% $153,510 75% $146,220 $138,213 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Specialist Quality Assurance Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $146,220 $12,185 $2,812 $70
Average $138,213 $11,518 $2,658 $66
25th Percentile $127,472 $10,623 $2,451 $61
Check out Specialist Quality Assurance Engineer Job Openings in California
Senior Quality Assurance Engineer

Pointwest Technologies Corp - Los Angeles, CA

Quality Assurance Automation Engineer

BayOne Solutions - Sunnyvale, CA

Software Quality Assurance Engineer

Eliassen Group - San Diego, CA

Senior Quality Assurance Engineer

System One - Irvine, CA

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Key Factors That Influence Specialist Quality Assurance Engineer Salaries

A Specialist 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 Specialist Quality Assurance Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Specialist 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:

  • Intermediate Quality Assurance Engineer (2-4 years): $98,257
  • QA/Validation Engineer III (4-7 years): $111,135
  • Specialist Quality Assurance Engineer (7+ years): $138,222
  • Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer (7-10 years): $165,838
  • QA/Validation Engineering Supervisor (10+ years): $124,223
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Intermediate Quality Assurance Engineer2-4 years$98,257
QA/Validation Engineer III4-7 years$111,135
Specialist Quality Assurance Engineer7+ years$138,222
Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer7-10 years$165,838
QA/Validation Engineering Supervisor10+ years$124,223
$98,257 Intermedi...
$111,135 QA/Valida...
$138,222 Specialis...
$165,838 Expert/Co...
$124,223 QA/Valida...
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Specialist 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: $138,451
  • West Hollywood: $138,351
  • Dodgertown: $138,450

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

Specialist 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 $154,721. While startup companies pay approximate $130,891.

Specialist Quality Assurance Engineer Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup1~50$130,891
Growth Stage51~500$138,432
Established501~5000$149,411
Enterprise5000+$154,721

Specialist Quality Assurance Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Specialist Quality Assurance Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 80% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Healthcare and Aerospace & Defense sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Specialist Quality Assurance Engineer positions in Hospitality & Leisure or MFG Nondurable typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Specialist Quality Assurance Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Specialist Quality Assurance Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$193,498$93.040%
Aerospace & Defense$179,677$86.030%
Pharmaceuticals$179,677$86.030%
Financial Services$165,856$80.020%
Software & Networking$165,856$80.020%

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

Understanding how a Specialist 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 August 01, 2026
$127,472
Average $138,213/year
$146,220
$10,623
Average $11,518/month
$12,185
$2,451
Average $2,658/week
$2,812
$61
Average $66/hour
$70
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $146,220 $12,185 $2,812 $70
Average $138,213 $11,518 $2,658 $66
25th Percentile $127,472 $10,623 $2,451 $61

Specialist Quality Assurance Engineer Salary Growth & Career Path

Specialist Quality Assurance Engineer
Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer
QA/Validation Engineering Supervisor

For a Specialist Quality Assurance Engineer, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Expert/Consultant Level Quality Assurance Engineer role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $165,900 - a projected growth of 20% over your current level.

Salaries of jobs related to Specialist Quality Assurance Engineer

Find Your Next Specialist Quality Assurance Engineer Job

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

United States

  • Turion Space

    Irvine, CA

    Senior Quality Assurance Engineer

    Turion Space | Irvine, CA

    Job Description. Job Description. Turion Space is seeking a. Senior Quality Assurance Engineer. to join our growing team in Irvine, CA. You'll be joining o... more

    5 Days Ago

  • AVUM INC

    Malibu, CA

    Quality Assurance Specialist

    AVUM INC | Malibu, CA

    Job Description. Job Description. Description. Position Summary. The Quality Assurance Specialist is responsible for planning, designing, executing, and do... more

    1 Day Ago

  • Skylimit Systems

    Simi Valley, CA

    Quality Assurance Specialist

    Skylimit Systems | Simi Valley, CA

    Job Description. Job Description. Job Summary. The Quality Specialist is responsible for creating, reviewing, and submitting First Article Inspection Repor... more

    1 Day Ago

  • 24 Seven Talent

    Glendale, CA

    Quality Assurance Specialist

    24 Seven Talent | Glendale, CA

    Our client, a full-service digital marketing agency is seeking an Email QA Specialist to ensure the accuracy, reliability, and performance of lifecycle and... more

    2 Days Ago

  • Forma Life Sciences

    Irvine, CA

    Quality Assurance Specialist

    Forma Life Sciences | Irvine, CA

    Job Description. Job Description. What We Do. Forma is a next-generation Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) based in Irvine, Califo... more

    2 Days Ago

  • Reva Medical LLC

    San Diego, CA

    Quality Assurance Specialist II

    Reva Medical LLC | San Diego, CA

    Job Description. Job Description. Quality Assurance SpecialistJob PurposeThe Quality Assurance Specialist is an experienced individual contributor who inde... more

    3 Days Ago

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