BLS Official Data · OEWS May 2025

Software Quality Assurance Analysts in California

$131,260 / year · average (mean) annual wage
$63.11 per hour

▲ 17.7% above U.S. average1st of 46 states

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Dataset: OEWS May 2025 Published: May 2026 Coverage: All 50 States + DC
Average$131,260per year
Median$128,740per year
Hourly$63.11per hour
10th – 90th percentile$65,890 – $201,070per year

Software Quality Assurance Analysts Pay Range in California

Pay distribution across experience levels

  • 10th Percentile — Entry Level$65,890
  • 25th Percentile — Junior$93,530
  • 50th Percentile — Median$128,740
  • 75th Percentile — Senior$165,530
  • 90th Percentile — Top Earners$201,070

Half of Software Quality Assurance Analysts in California earn more than $128,740. The top 10% make $201,070 or more, while entry-level workers start around $65,890.

Software Quality Assurance Analysts in California: Key Facts

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

  • California ranks 1st of 46 states for Software Quality Assurance Analysts pay, at $131,260 per year (17.7% above the U.S. average of $111,490).
  • 27,710 people work as Software Quality Assurance Analysts in California — 14.8% of all U.S. Software Quality Assurance Analysts jobs.
  • Location quotient 1.27: Software Quality Assurance Analysts jobs are more concentrated in California than in the U.S. overall.
  • Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $65,890; the top 10% earn over $201,070.
  • Hourly equivalent: $63.11 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
  • Among technology jobs in California, Software Developers pays the most ($186,770).

Software Quality Assurance Analysts Job Market in California

Key factors affecting compensation

California's key industries are Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture, and its job market is rated very strong. Software Quality Assurance Analysts here earn $131,260 on average, placing the state 1st nationally.

With a cost-of-living index of 1.42 (U.S. = 1.00), a California salary of $131,260 is roughly equivalent to $92,437 at the national average cost of living.

Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Washington ($131,090), Maryland ($123,410), Colorado ($123,340) are the closest alternatives for Software Quality Assurance Analysts weighing a move.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025

Related career salary benchmarks

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this salary

What is the average Software Quality Assurance Analysts salary in California?

The average Software Quality Assurance Analysts salary in California is $131,260 per year (median $128,740), which is 17.7% above the national average of $111,490.

How does California rank for Software Quality Assurance Analysts pay?

California ranks 1st out of 46 states. The highest-paying state is California ($131,260/yr).

How much do entry-level Software Quality Assurance Analysts make in California?

The lowest-paid 10% of Software Quality Assurance Analysts in California earn about $65,890 per year and the 25th percentile is $93,530.

How much do Software Quality Assurance Analysts make per hour in California?

About $63.11 per hour, based on the $131,260 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.

How many Software Quality Assurance Analysts work in California?

BLS counts 27,710 Software Quality Assurance Analysts jobs in California (OEWS May 2025).

Explore more salary data