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 Analyst in California is $80,625 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $39.
However, a Software Quality Assurance Analyst'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 Talent
AI-Powered HR
Software Quality Assurance Analyst Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $86,378 | $7,198 | $1,661 | $42 |
| Average | $80,625 | $6,719 | $1,550 | $39 |
| 25th Percentile | $74,954 | $6,246 | $1,441 | $36 |
Neighborhood Healthcare - Murrieta, CA
DocMagic - Torrance, CA
Neighborhood Healthcare - Oceanside, CA
Eliassen Group - San Diego, CA
A Software Quality Assurance Analyst'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 Analyst'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 Analyst | $80,202 |
| Software ... Level Software Quality Assurance Analyst | $102,924 |
| Software ... Level Software Quality Assurance Analyst | $124,778 |
| Software ... Level Software Quality Assurance Analyst | $144,099 |
| Software ... Level Software Quality Assurance Analyst | $168,552 |
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 Assurance Analysts. 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 Analyst 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 Analyst positions in Transportation or Telecom typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Software Quality Assurance Analyst as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software & Networking | $120,937 | $58.0 | 50% |
| Pharmaceuticals | $100,781 | $48.0 | 25% |
| Financial Services | $96,750 | $47.0 | 20% |
| Energy & Utilities | $92,718 | $45.0 | 15% |
| Biotechnology | $88,687 | $43.0 | 10% |
Understanding how a Software Quality Assurance Analyst'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 | $86,378 | $7,198 | $1,661 | $42 |
| Average | $80,625 | $6,719 | $1,550 | $39 |
| 25th Percentile | $74,954 | $6,246 | $1,441 | $36 |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Software Quality Assurance Analyst job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
H1b Lca
San Francisco, CA
H1b Lca | San Francisco, CA
Job Search Search Keyword Location Enter any keyword including company name, job title in the search box.Enter either state code (e.g.CA, IL etc) or enter ... more
10 Days Ago
TP-Link Systems Inc.
Irvine, CA
TP-Link Systems Inc. | Irvine, CA
Job Description. Job Description. Headquartered in the United States. TP-Link Systems Inc. is a global provider of networking devices and smart home produc... more
8 Days Ago
Rand Technology, LLC
Irvine, CA
Rand Technology, LLC | Irvine, CA
Job Description. Job Description. Description. Role Summary. Summary and overall objectives of the job. The EHS/QMS Analyst supports our Environmental, Hea... more
8 Days Ago
U.S. Bancorp
Irvine, CA
U.S. Bancorp | Irvine, CA
Job Title. At U.S. Bank, we're on a journey to do our best. Helping the customers and businesses we serve to make better and smarter financial decisions an... more
9 Days Ago
California ISO
Folsom, CA
California ISO | Folsom, CA
Company DescriptionThe California Independent System Operator (ISO) manages the flow of electricity across the high-voltage, long-distance power lines that... more
10 Days Ago
Cognizant
Cupertino, CA
Cognizant | Cupertino, CA
Cognizant is one of the world's leading professional services companies, we help our clients modernize technology, reinvent processes, and transform experi... 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:
