State comparison · 2025
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers salary: California vs Montana
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers in California earn a median of $128,740. In Montana, $103,930. After cost-of-living, the gap is 5.9% — not 23.9%.
Nominal pay gap
+23.9%
California vs Montana
COL-adjusted gap
+5.9%
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%
Montana
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers
- Median
- $103,930
- p25
- $84,050
- p75
- $134,650
- p10
- $50,380
- p90
- $170,620
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 94.6
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.