State comparison · 2025
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers salary: California vs South Dakota
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers in California earn a median of $128,740. In South Dakota, $68,120. After cost-of-living, the gap is 51.3% — not 89%.
Nominal pay gap
+89%
California vs South Dakota
COL-adjusted gap
+51.3%
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%
South Dakota
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers
- Median
- $68,120
- p25
- $55,400
- p75
- $84,950
- p10
- $47,670
- p90
- $104,840
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 88.6
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.