Entry-level QA Engineer salary in Riverside, CA
Based on 54 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Redlands, Temecula, Ontario, Corona, San Bernardino.
Also listed as: Software Tester, Test Automation Engineer
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $74,202 |
| 25th | $85,280 |
| 50th (median) | $92,435 |
| 75th | $97,760 |
| 90th | $112,320 |
Cost of living
Riverside's median entry-level QA Engineer salary of $92,435 is worth about $86,800 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Riverside = 106.4).
Compared with all workers here
All Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers in the Riverside, CA area earned a median of $105,720 in May 2025 (450 employed). The H-1B median here is $92,435, 13% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Systems Research Institute | $93,246 | 52 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $92,435 | 54 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $97,427 | 34 |
| Senior · Level III | $109,860 | 12 |
| Expert · Level IV | $131,248 | 21 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $67,725 | $92,435 | 54 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $86,798 | $97,427 | 34 |
| Senior · Level III | $105,872 | $109,860 | 12 |
| Expert · Level IV | $124,946 | $131,248 | 21 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.