QA Automation Engineer salary in San Jose, United States
A mid-level QA Automation Engineer in San Jose earns a median of $150k a year gross ($150k), from $120k at p10 to $180k at p90. San Jose pays 1.20× the United States median and 25% above the US median of $120k. About 1 million people live in San Jose.
QA Automation Engineer pay by level in San Jose
Gross annual pay in USD. Junior $110k, lead $220k. The bar spans p10 to p90 with the median marked.
| Level | p10 | Median | p90 | Range | Median (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Junior | $92k | $110k | $140k | $110k | |
| Mid-level | $120k | $150k | $180k | $150k | |
| Senior | $150k | $180k | $230k | $180k | |
| Lead | $180k | $220k | $270k | $220k |
Estimates from posted pay ranges, base pay only: the United States median ($120k) times a 1.20 city factor. Methodology.
From gross to take-home in San Jose
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 |
| 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 |
| San Diego | 1.03× | $100k | $120k | $150k |
| Austin | 1.02× | $100k | $120k | $150k |
Other QA salaries in San Jose
7 QA Automation Engineer jobs in San Jose · QA hiring in San Jose · Hire a QA Automation Engineer
QA Automation Engineer salary in San Jose: FAQ
What is the average QA Automation Engineer salary in San Jose?
The median gross salary for a mid-level QA Automation Engineer in San Jose is $150k a year ($150k). The p10 is $120k and the p90 is $180k. This is an estimate from posted pay ranges, scaled to San Jose with a city factor of 1.20.
How much does a senior QA Automation Engineer make in San Jose?
A senior QA Automation Engineer in San Jose earns a median of $180k, with a range of $150k to $230k. Leads reach $220k and juniors start near $110k.
What is an entry-level QA Automation Engineer salary in San Jose?
A junior QA Automation Engineer in San Jose earns about $110k a year ($110k), between $92k and $140k. Pay rises to $150k at mid-level.
Is San Jose a good-paying city for QA Automation Engineers in United States?
San Jose ranks 2nd of 62 tracked United States cities for this role, at 1.20x the national median of $120k. It sits in the top third.
What is the take-home pay for a QA Automation Engineer in San Jose?
Roughly 72-78% of gross stays after income tax and social contributions for a single mid-level earner: about $110k to $120k a year, or $9,000 a month. This is not tax advice.
What is the hourly rate for a QA Automation Engineer in San Jose?
A $150k gross salary equals about $72 an hour on a 40-hour week ($12k a month gross). Contractors typically quote 20-35% above this to cover leave and benefits.
All figures are gross estimates, not offers or advice.