Know your market value with insights across roles — from individual contributors to executive pay and overall company compensation trends.
Access a suite of powerful calculators to make data-driven career decisions.
Automate pay cycles, manage job architectures, and ensure pay equity with AI-powered compensation platforms.
Access validated salary benchmarks, labor market trends, and minimum wage data to stay competitive.
Participate in and purchase industry-specific salary surveys to obtain the most accurate, peer-reported pay data.
As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Software Quality Assurance in California is $77,942 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $37.
However, a Software Quality Assurance's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
AI-Powered HR
Recruit with AI
Software Quality Assurance Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $83,156 | $6,930 | $1,599 | $40 |
| Average | $77,942 | $6,495 | $1,499 | $37 |
| 25th Percentile | $71,890 | $5,991 | $1,382 | $35 |
Eliassen Group - San Diego, CA
H1b Lca - San Francisco, CA
TP-Link Systems Inc. - Irvine, CA
California ISO - Folsom, CA
A Software Quality Assurance'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 Software Quality Assurance'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 |
|---|---|
| Software ... Level Software Quality Assurance | $78,362 |
| Software ... Level Software Quality Assurance | $100,563 |
| Software ... Level Software Quality Assurance | $121,916 |
| Software ... Level Software Quality Assurance | $140,793 |
| Software ... Level Software Quality Assurance | $164,685 |
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 Software Quality Assurances. 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 Software Quality Assurance roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 110% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Pharmaceuticals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, Software Quality Assurance positions in Transportation or Telecom typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Software Quality Assurance as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software & Networking | $116,912 | $56.0 | 50% |
| Pharmaceuticals | $97,427 | $47.0 | 25% |
| Financial Services | $93,530 | $45.0 | 20% |
| Energy & Utilities | $89,633 | $43.0 | 15% |
| Biotechnology | $85,736 | $41.0 | 10% |
Understanding how a Software Quality Assurance'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 | $83,156 | $6,930 | $1,599 | $40 |
| Average | $77,942 | $6,495 | $1,499 | $37 |
| 25th Percentile | $71,890 | $5,991 | $1,382 | $35 |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Software Quality Assurance job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
California ISO
Folsom, CA
California ISO | Folsom, CA
Job DescriptionPRIMARY PURPOSE :Under the general direction of the Manager, applies test engineering and product knowledge in the design of tests and testi... more
10 Days Ago
Advance Services
Soledad, CA
Advance Services | Soledad, CA
Quality Assurance. Join our Quality Assurance team and help ensure our fresh produce meets the highest standards of food safety and quality. This role is r... more
6 Days Ago
Aerotek
Oceanside, CA
Aerotek | Oceanside, CA
Job Title:Quality Assurance Technician Job Description The Quality Assurance Technician ensures compliance with food regulatory requirements, identifying a... more
9 Days Ago
Partners Personnel
Fairfield, CA
Partners Personnel | Fairfield, CA
Quality Assurance Specialist Join Our Mission for Excellence. Are you passionate about ensuring top-notch quality in every aspect of production. Do you thr... more
6 Days Ago
Pacer Group
Foothill Ranch, CA
Pacer Group | Foothill Ranch, CA
Quality Auditor (QA) 2nd Shift. Location: 1 Icon, Foothill Ranch, CA 92610 Shift: Monday Friday | 1:00 PM 9:00 PM Pay Rate: $23.75/hour. Job Summary. We ar... more
6 Days Ago
Crystal Stairs
Los Angeles, CA
Crystal Stairs | Los Angeles, CA
Quality Assurance - Compliance Specialist. Crystal Stairs, Inc. Improving the Lives of Families through Child Care Services, Research, and Advocacy. Crysta... more
9 Days Ago
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.
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.
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 CalculatorSalary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.
Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.
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.
Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:
