Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn a median of $133,970 a year ($64.41 an hour), based on BLS data for 100 workers.
Pay ranges from $75,100 for the lowest-paid 10% to $175,960 for the top 10%. That is 28% higher than the national median of $104,300. Pay here is 4% higher than the California statewide median of $128,740. There are 1.0 software quality assurance analysts and testers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $127,490, close to the median.
Pay range for software quality assurance analysts and testers in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $75,100 | $36.11 |
| 25th percentile | $97,820 | $47.03 |
| Median | $133,970 | $64.41 |
| 75th percentile | $168,150 | $80.84 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $175,960 | $84.60 |
| Average (mean) | $127,490 | $61.30 |
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 | $11,164.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,582.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,152.69 |
| Weekly | $2,576.35 |
| Hourly | $64.41 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $133,970 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 Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $166,530 | 6,480 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $134,630 | 5,880 |
| 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 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | $156,910 | $75.44 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $124,450 | $59.83 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $75,720 | $36.41 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $107,990 | $51.92 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $118,810 | $57.12 |
| Computer Programmer | $132,850 | $63.87 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $114,220 | $54.91 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $102,980 | $49.51 |
| Database Administrator | $102,510 | $49.28 |
| Web Developer | $81,350 | $39.11 |
| Data Scientist | $130,980 | $62.97 |
| Operations Research Analyst | $104,680 | $50.33 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, 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 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The median salary for software quality assurance analysts and testers in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $133,970 a year, or $64.41 an hour. Pay ranges from $75,100 for the lowest-paid 10% to $175,960 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid software quality assurance analysts and testers make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The top 10% of software quality assurance analysts and testers in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn at least $175,960 a year. The top 25% earn $168,150 or more.
What is the starting pay for software quality assurance analysts and testers in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $75,100 a year, and a quarter of software quality assurance analysts and testers earn $97,820 or less.
How many software quality assurance analysts and testers work in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
About 100 software quality assurance analysts and testers are employed in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.