Salaries › Software QA Tester › California
Software QA Tester Salary in California (2026)
$61.89 per hour · take-home ≈ $91,364/year ($7,614/month) for a single filer
California is the highest-paying state in the country for Software QA Testers, with a median about 18% above the national average. Of the 27,710 Software QA Tester jobs BLS counts in California, the typical worker earns $128,740 a year — though pay ranges from $65,890 for newcomers to $201,070 at the top.
Software QA Tester pay range in California
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $65,890 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $93,530 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $128,740 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $165,530 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $201,070 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 27,710 Software QA Tester jobs in California (occupation code 15-1253, “Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers”).
Gross vs. take-home in California
A median Software QA Tester salary of $128,740 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus California state income tax, a single filer keeps about $91,364 — an effective tax rate of 29.0%.
| Gross (median) | $128,740 |
| Federal income tax | −$19,632 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$9,849 |
| California state income tax | −$7,896 |
| Take-home (annual) | $91,364 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $7,614 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free California paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Software QA Tester make in California?
- The median Software QA Tester salary in California is $128,740 per year ($61.89 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $93,530 and $165,530.
- What is the take-home pay for a Software QA Tester in California?
- On the median salary of $128,740, a single filer in California takes home about $91,364 per year ($7,614 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 29.0%.
- How many Software QA Tester jobs are there in California?
- BLS counts 27,710 Software QA Tester jobs in California in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Software QA Testers
Other salaries in California
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified California state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for California.