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As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Tester in California is $51,730 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $25.
However, a Tester's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
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Tester Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $58,045 | $4,837 | $1,116 | $28 |
| Average | $51,730 | $4,311 | $995 | $25 |
| 25th Percentile | $44,859 | $3,738 | $863 | $22 |
Eastridge Workforce Solutions - Fremont, CA
Hammond Power Solutions - Compton, CA
Pacer Group - Camarillo, CA
Monster Beverage - Norwalk, CA
A Tester'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 Tester'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:
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Tester Level Tester | $53,162 |
| Software ... Level Tester | $60,297 |
| Software ... Level Tester | $71,927 |
| Software ... Level Tester | $80,828 |
| Software ... Level Tester | $134,073 |
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 Testers. 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:
For Tester 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 Healthcare and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Tester positions in Internet or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Tester as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare | $62,077 | $30.0 | 20% |
| Biotechnology | $59,490 | $29.0 | 15% |
| Aerospace & Defense | $56,904 | $27.0 | 10% |
| Business Services | $56,904 | $27.0 | 10% |
| Insurance | $56,904 | $27.0 | 10% |
Understanding how a Tester'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 | $58,045 | $4,837 | $1,116 | $28 |
| Average | $51,730 | $4,311 | $995 | $25 |
| 25th Percentile | $44,859 | $3,738 | $863 | $22 |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Tester job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
TriceHealthcare
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Syntricate Technologies | Cupertino, CA
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Trucking People | San Francisco, CA
Job Overview. An on-demand autonomous ride-hailing company is seeking a Driver Tester to help support and test self-driving vehicles in real-world conditio... more
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Trice Healthcare
Irvine, CA
TRUCKING PEOPLE
San Francisco, CA
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Job Description. Job Description. Contact. Call Teresa at 346-646-3662. for a quick phone screen. Driver Tester. Location. San Francisco, CA (In-person). P... more
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Pacer Group
Camarillo, CA
Pacer Group | Camarillo, CA
Pacer Group - - Responsibilities: Assemble and test moderately complex products in a manufacturing environment. Interpret blueprints, engineering orders, a... more
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