Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers salary in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median of $166,530 a year ($80.06 an hour), based on BLS data for 6,480 workers.
Pay ranges from $84,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $215,130 for the top 10%. That is 60% higher than the national median of $104,300. Pay here is 29% higher than the California statewide median of $128,740. There are 5.7 software quality assurance analysts and testers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 4.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $160,040, close to the median.
Pay range for software quality assurance analysts and testers in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $84,240 | $40.50 |
| 25th percentile | $123,680 | $59.46 |
| Median | $166,530 | $80.06 |
| 75th percentile | $184,230 | $88.57 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $215,130 | $103.43 |
| Average (mean) | $160,040 | $76.94 |
Half of software quality assurance analysts and testers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $13,877.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,938.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,405 |
| Weekly | $3,202.50 |
| Hourly | $80.06 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $166,530 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $134,630 | 5,880 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $133,970 | 100 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $124,400 | 80 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $122,210 | 7,200 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $120,210 | 2,280 |
| Vallejo, CA | $115,710 | 40 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $113,680 | 290 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $110,640 | 230 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $105,720 | 450 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $104,410 | 930 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $101,720 | 90 |
| Fresno, CA | $94,350 | 100 |
| Modesto, CA | $87,650 | 40 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $83,290 | 180 |
Highest-paying states for software quality assurance analysts and testers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $128,740 |
| Washington | $128,480 |
| Colorado | $123,690 |
| Massachusetts | $122,210 |
| Virginia | $121,590 |
| New York | $121,240 |
| New Jersey | $119,470 |
| New Mexico | $116,580 |
| Maryland | $111,100 |
| Oregon | $108,440 |
See Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | $213,110 | $102.46 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $184,430 | $88.67 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $157,140 | $75.55 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $93,590 | $45.00 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $201,260 | $96.76 |
| Computer Network Architect | $186,110 | $89.47 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $133,360 | $64.12 |
| Information Security Analyst | $176,120 | $84.67 |
| Computer and Information Research Scientists | $218,420 | $105.01 |
| Web Developer | $166,670 | $80.13 |
| Database Architect | $197,960 | $95.17 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $124,130 | $59.68 |
| Computer Programmer | $154,920 | $74.48 |
| Database Administrator | $138,620 | $66.64 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 15-1253. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a software quality assurance analysts and testers make in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The median salary for software quality assurance analysts and testers in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $166,530 a year, or $80.06 an hour. Pay ranges from $84,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $215,130 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid software quality assurance analysts and testers make in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The top 10% of software quality assurance analysts and testers in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn at least $215,130 a year. The top 25% earn $184,230 or more.
What is the starting pay for software quality assurance analysts and testers in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $84,240 a year, and a quarter of software quality assurance analysts and testers earn $123,680 or less.
How many software quality assurance analysts and testers work in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
About 6,480 software quality assurance analysts and testers are employed in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.