State comparison · 2025
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers salary: California vs Minnesota
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers in California earn a median of $128,740. In Minnesota, $101,700. After cost-of-living, the gap is 12.8% — not 26.6%.
Nominal pay gap
+26.6%
California vs Minnesota
COL-adjusted gap
+12.8%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
California
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers
- Median
- $128,740
- p25
- $93,530
- p75
- $165,530
- p10
- $65,890
- p90
- $201,070
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 110.7
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -33%
Minnesota
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers
- Median
- $101,700
- p25
- $80,610
- p75
- $128,450
- p10
- $66,090
- p90
- $137,310
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 98.6
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -39%
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Cost-of-living adjustment from BEA Regional Price Parities (overall index). Hiring velocity from DOL OFLC public disclosure data, recent 180 days vs prior. See methodology.