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United States · 3 open in Los Angeles · updated 2026-10-20

SDET salary in Los Angeles, United States

A mid-level SDET in Los Angeles earns a median of $140k a year gross ($140k), from $110k at p10 to $170k at p90. Los Angeles pays 1.05× the United States median and 8% above the US median of $130k. About 3.8 million people live in Los Angeles.

Estimate · gross / year
$140kmedian · mid-level · $140k
p10 $110kp90 $170k
Rank 7 of 62City factor 1.05×
Pay by level

SDET pay by level in Los Angeles

Gross annual pay in USD. Junior $100k, lead $210k. The bar spans p10 to p90 with the median marked.

Levelp10Medianp90RangeMedian (USD)
Junior$86k$100k$130k$100k
Mid-level$110k$140k$170k$140k
Senior$140k$180k$210k$180k
Lead$170k$210k$260k$210k

Estimates from posted pay ranges, base pay only: the United States median ($130k) times a 1.05 city factor. Methodology.

Take-home

From gross to take-home in Los Angeles

Employers in United States usually quote annual base salary for employees, hourly rates for 1099 and W2 contracts.

$140kgross median / year
$100k–$110ktake-home / year (72-78%)
$12kgross / month
$67gross / hour, 40 h week

A generic estimate for a single mid-level earner, not tax advice.

Other cities

SDET pay in other United States cities

United States overview
CityPay factorp10Medianp90
San Francisco1.22×$130k$160k$190k
San Jose1.20×$130k$160k$190k
New York1.15×$120k$150k$180k
Seattle1.15×$120k$150k$180k
Boston1.08×$120k$140k$170k
Washington DC1.06×$110k$140k$170k
San Diego1.03×$110k$130k$160k
Austin1.02×$110k$130k$160k
FAQ

SDET salary in Los Angeles: FAQ

What is the average SDET salary in Los Angeles?

The median gross salary for a mid-level SDET in Los Angeles is $140k a year ($140k). The p10 is $110k and the p90 is $170k. This is an estimate from posted pay ranges, scaled to Los Angeles with a city factor of 1.05.

How much does a senior SDET make in Los Angeles?

A senior SDET in Los Angeles earns a median of $180k, with a range of $140k to $210k. Leads reach $210k and juniors start near $100k.

What is an entry-level SDET salary in Los Angeles?

A junior SDET in Los Angeles earns about $100k a year ($100k), between $86k and $130k. Pay rises to $140k at mid-level.

Is Los Angeles a good-paying city for SDETs in United States?

Los Angeles ranks 7th of 62 tracked United States cities for this role, at 1.05x the national median of $130k. It sits in the top third.

What is the take-home pay for a SDET in Los Angeles?

Roughly 72-78% of gross stays after income tax and social contributions for a single mid-level earner: about $100k to $110k a year, or $9,000 a month. This is not tax advice.

What is the hourly rate for a SDET in Los Angeles?

A $140k gross salary equals about $67 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.

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