Staff QA Engineer H-1B Salary in San Diego, CA
Employers have filed 456 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Staff QA Engineer positions in San Diego, CA, with a median salary of $133,370. That's 4% lower than the national Staff QA Engineer H-1B median of $139,400 across all U.S. locations, and 11% higher than the San Diego, CA all-roles H-1B median of $120,224. Staff QA Engineer ranks #7 among H-1B job titles filed from San Diego, CA.
Headline numbers for Staff QA Engineer H-1B roles in San Diego, CA, sourced from certified DOL Labor Condition Applications. This pair ranks #566 by filing volume out of the 7,138 job × city combinations we track — one of the largest for Staff QA Engineer hiring.
Staff QA Engineer H-1B Salary Range in San Diego, CA
The pay distribution for this role spans $45,679 from the 10th to 90th percentile. Half of all offers fall between $120,224 and $146,328, the interquartile range where most experienced Staff QA Engineers land. The median of $133,370 sits 4% lower than the national Staff QA Engineer H-1B median.
- 10th percentile
- $117,021
- 25th percentile
- $120,224
- Median
- $133,370
- 75th percentile
- $146,328
- 90th percentile
- $162,700
Top Employers Hiring Staff QA Engineers in San Diego, CA
QUALCOMM is the largest H-1B sponsor for Staff QA Engineer in San Diego, CA, with 359 certified filings (79% of local Staff QA Engineer H-1B filings) at a median salary of $133,370. Among the top sponsors, SERVICENOW pays the highest median at $135,138. The pay spread across top employers is 13%, so which employer you work for materially affects your offer.
Pay spread among top employers: 13% ($120,000 at ILLUMINA to $135,138 at SERVICENOW)
| Employer | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| QUALCOMM | 359 | $133,370 |
| QUALCOMM ATHEROS | 36 | $133,370 |
| SERVICENOW | 19 | $135,138 |
| DEXCOM | 7 | $126,859 |
| ILLUMINA | 6 | $120,000 |
How This Salary Compares
Two benchmarks worth knowing. The first is the national Staff QA Engineer H-1B median across every U.S. location — a measure of how local cost-of-living and market demand shift pay up or down. The second is the all-roles H-1B median in San Diego, CA, which tells you whether Staff QA Engineer pays above or below the typical H-1B job in this metro.
Staff QA Engineer H-1B Salaries in Other Cities
The other top metros where Staff QA Engineer is an active H-1B role. Santa Clara, CA has the most filings (167) outside San Diego, CA. Click any city below for local salary percentiles and top sponsoring employers.
| City | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Clara, CA | 167 | $167,149 |
| Austin, TX | 142 | $117,917 |
| San Jose, CA | 109 | $147,667 |
| Sunnyvale, CA | 94 | $155,000 |
| Fremont, CA | 79 | $165,600 |
| Foster City, CA | 58 | $139,180 |
| Palo Alto, CA | 55 | $164,154 |
Other H-1B Jobs in San Diego, CA
The most common H-1B specialty occupations filed from San Diego, CA, ranked by certified filing volume. Software Engineer is the busiest non-Staff QA Engineer role here (2,748 filings). The highest-paying role on this list is Staff Software Engineer at a median of $146,328.
| Job Title | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer | 2,748 | $125,000 |
| Senior Software Engineer | 1,673 | $121,597 |
| Staff Software Engineer | 1,436 | $146,328 |
| QA Engineer | 767 | $96,742 |
| Senior QA Engineer | 613 | $111,322 |
| Software Developer | 553 | $111,322 |
| Software Engineer II | 363 | $130,000 |
| Senior Asics Engineer | 349 | $108,930 |
| Systems Engineer | 330 | $108,971 |
| Asics Engineer | 314 | $104,562 |
Key Insights
The median H-1B salary for Staff QA Engineer in San Diego, CA is $133,370, based on 456 certified Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. This is 4% lower than the national Staff QA Engineer H-1B median of $139,400 across all U.S. locations. It is also 11% higher than the overall H-1B median of $120,224 in San Diego, CA across all job titles.
Salaries span a $45,679 range from the 10th percentile ($117,021) to the 90th percentile ($162,700). The middle 50% of workers earn between $120,224 and $146,328, reflecting variation in experience, specific technical skills, and employer tier.
QUALCOMM is the largest H-1B sponsor for this role in San Diego, CA, with 359 certified filings at a median salary of $133,370. Among the top employers, SERVICENOW pays the highest median at $135,138. The pay spread across top employers is 13%, so which employer you work for meaningfully affects your offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
The most common questions people ask about Staff QA Engineer H-1B roles in San Diego, CA, answered directly from 456 certified Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Every answer below cites the specific data point it's based on.
What is the average Staff QA Engineer salary in San Diego, CA?
The median H-1B salary for Staff QA Engineer positions in San Diego, CA is $133,370, based on 456 certified Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) filed with the U.S. Department of Labor.
- 10th percentile
- $117,021
- 25th percentile
- $120,224
- Median
- $133,370
- 75th percentile
- $146,328
- 90th percentile
- $162,700
The salary distribution for Staff QA Engineer roles in San Diego, CA shows considerable range: the 10th percentile earns $117,021, while the 90th percentile earns $162,700. This $45,679 spread reflects differences in experience levels, specific technical skills, company size, and seniority.
Compared to the national H-1B median of $130,707, Staff QA Engineer salaries in San Diego, CA are 2% higher, reflecting the local cost of living and market demand for this role.
Which companies hire Staff QA Engineers in San Diego, CA?
The top employers sponsoring H-1B visas for Staff QA Engineer positions in San Diego, CA are:
These employers represent the largest H-1B sponsors for Staff QA Engineer roles specifically in San Diego, CA. QUALCOMM leads with 359 filings at a median salary of $133,370. Compensation varies by employer, ranging from $120,000 to $135,138.
How do I get an H-1B visa as a Staff QA Engineer in San Diego, CA?
To obtain an H-1B visa as a Staff QA Engineer in San Diego, CA, you'll need a sponsoring employer. The process involves several steps:
- Secure a job offer from a U.S. employer willing to sponsor your H-1B visa
- The employer files a Labor Condition Application (LCA) with the Department of Labor
- Once the LCA is certified, the employer files an H-1B petition with USCIS
- If selected in the H-1B lottery (if applicable) and approved, you can begin work
Based on our data, 456 H-1B positions for Staff QA Engineers in San Diego, CA have been certified, indicating strong demand for this role. The top sponsors listed above have a track record of successful H-1B sponsorship for this position.