QA Automation Engineer salary in San Diego, United States
A mid-level QA Automation Engineer in San Diego earns a median of $120k a year gross ($120k), from $100k at p10 to $150k at p90. San Diego pays 1.03× the United States median. About 1.4 million people live in San Diego.
QA Automation Engineer pay by level in San Diego
Gross annual pay in USD. Junior $96k, lead $190k. The bar spans p10 to p90 with the median marked.
| Level | p10 | Median | p90 | Range | Median (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Junior | $79k | $96k | $120k | $96k | |
| Mid-level | $100k | $120k | $150k | $120k | |
| Senior | $130k | $160k | $190k | $160k | |
| Lead | $160k | $190k | $230k | $190k |
Estimates from posted pay ranges, base pay only: the United States median ($120k) times a 1.03 city factor. Methodology.
From gross to take-home in San Diego
Employers in United States usually quote annual base salary for employees, hourly rates for 1099 and W2 contracts.
A generic estimate for a single mid-level earner, not tax advice.
QA Automation Engineer pay in other United States cities
| City | Pay factor | p10 | Median | p90 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | 1.22× | $120k | $150k | $180k |
| San Jose | 1.20× | $120k | $150k | $180k |
| New York | 1.15× | $110k | $140k | $170k |
| Seattle | 1.15× | $110k | $140k | $170k |
| Boston | 1.08× | $110k | $130k | $160k |
| Washington DC | 1.06× | $110k | $130k | $160k |
| Los Angeles | 1.05× | $100k | $130k | $160k |
| Austin | 1.02× | $100k | $120k | $150k |
Other QA salaries in San Diego
2 QA Automation Engineer jobs in San Diego · QA hiring in San Diego · Hire a QA Automation Engineer
QA Automation Engineer salary in San Diego: FAQ
What is the average QA Automation Engineer salary in San Diego?
The median gross salary for a mid-level QA Automation Engineer in San Diego is $120k a year ($120k). The p10 is $100k and the p90 is $150k. This is an estimate from posted pay ranges, scaled to San Diego with a city factor of 1.03.
How much does a senior QA Automation Engineer make in San Diego?
A senior QA Automation Engineer in San Diego earns a median of $160k, with a range of $130k to $190k. Leads reach $190k and juniors start near $96k.
What is an entry-level QA Automation Engineer salary in San Diego?
A junior QA Automation Engineer in San Diego earns about $96k a year ($96k), between $79k and $120k. Pay rises to $120k at mid-level.
Is San Diego a good-paying city for QA Automation Engineers in United States?
San Diego ranks 8th of 62 tracked United States cities for this role, at 1.03x the national median of $120k. It sits in the top third.
What is the take-home pay for a QA Automation Engineer in San Diego?
Roughly 72-78% of gross stays after income tax and social contributions for a single mid-level earner: about $86k to $94k a year, or $7,500 a month. This is not tax advice.
What is the hourly rate for a QA Automation Engineer in San Diego?
A $120k gross salary equals about $58 an hour on a 40-hour week ($10k a month gross). Contractors typically quote 20-35% above this to cover leave and benefits.
All figures are gross estimates, not offers or advice.