SDET salary in San Diego, United States
A mid-level SDET in San Diego earns a median of $130k a year gross ($130k), from $110k at p10 to $160k at p90. San Diego pays 1.03× the United States median. About 1.4 million people live in San Diego.
SDET pay by level in San Diego
Gross annual pay in USD. Junior $100k, lead $210k. The bar spans p10 to p90 with the median marked.
| Level | p10 | Median | p90 | Range | Median (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Junior | $84k | $100k | $130k | $100k | |
| Mid-level | $110k | $130k | $160k | $130k | |
| Senior | $140k | $170k | $210k | $170k | |
| Lead | $170k | $210k | $250k | $210k |
Estimates from posted pay ranges, base pay only: the United States median ($130k) 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.
SDET pay in other United States cities
| City | Pay factor | p10 | Median | p90 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | 1.22× | $130k | $160k | $190k |
| San Jose | 1.20× | $130k | $160k | $190k |
| New York | 1.15× | $120k | $150k | $180k |
| Seattle | 1.15× | $120k | $150k | $180k |
| Boston | 1.08× | $120k | $140k | $170k |
| Washington DC | 1.06× | $110k | $140k | $170k |
| Los Angeles | 1.05× | $110k | $140k | $170k |
| Austin | 1.02× | $110k | $130k | $160k |
Other QA salaries in San Diego
3 SDET jobs in San Diego · QA hiring in San Diego · Hire a SDET
SDET salary in San Diego: FAQ
What is the average SDET salary in San Diego?
The median gross salary for a mid-level SDET in San Diego is $130k a year ($130k). The p10 is $110k and the p90 is $160k. This is an estimate from posted pay ranges, scaled to San Diego with a city factor of 1.03.
How much does a senior SDET make in San Diego?
A senior SDET in San Diego earns a median of $170k, with a range of $140k to $210k. Leads reach $210k and juniors start near $100k.
What is an entry-level SDET salary in San Diego?
A junior SDET in San Diego earns about $100k a year ($100k), between $84k and $130k. Pay rises to $130k at mid-level.
Is San Diego a good-paying city for SDETs in United States?
San Diego ranks 8th of 62 tracked United States cities for this role, at 1.03x the national median of $130k. It sits in the top third.
What is the take-home pay for a SDET in San Diego?
Roughly 72-78% of gross stays after income tax and social contributions for a single mid-level earner: about $94k to $100k a year, or $8,200 a month. This is not tax advice.
What is the hourly rate for a SDET in San Diego?
A $130k gross salary equals about $62 an hour on a 40-hour week ($11k a month gross). Contractors typically quote 20-35% above this to cover leave and benefits.
All figures are gross estimates, not offers or advice.