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Card Grader Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Senior Software Engineer (Card Present)

Irvine, CA · On-site

$129K - $171K/yr

NET ecosystem, with experience building production-grade backend services and APIs. • Hands-on ... to card-present environments, including encryption, key injection, and secure cardholder data ...

Senior Software Engineer (Card Present)

Irvine, CA · On-site

$131K - $173K/yr

We are expanding our Card Present platform, the infrastructure that powers in-person, tap, dip, and ... NET ecosystem, with experience building production-grade backend services and APIs. * Hands-on ...

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Card Grader information

See California salary details

$9

$16

$30

How much do card grader jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 19, 2026, the average hourly pay for card grader in California is $16.86, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $11.39 and $19.90 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a card grader?

Card graders are professionals who evaluate the condition and authenticity of collectible cards, such as sports cards, trading cards, and gaming cards. They inspect cards for factors like centering, corners, edges, and surface quality using standardized criteria. Based on their assessment, graders assign a numerical grade or label, which significantly affects the card's value and marketability. Card graders often work for specialized grading companies and require a keen eye for detail and knowledge of industry standards.

What skills and qualifications are needed to be a card grader?

To thrive as a Card Grader, you need a keen eye for detail, in-depth knowledge of trading cards, and familiarity with industry grading standards, often supported by experience with collectibles or authentication. Proficiency with magnification tools, lighting equipment, and grading software is typically required. Strong analytical skills, patience, and integrity help ensure unbiased and consistent evaluations. These skills are crucial for maintaining accuracy, trust, and reputation in the collectibles market.

What are common challenges faced by card graders, and how can they overcome them?

Card Graders often encounter challenges such as maintaining consistency in grading standards, dealing with high volumes of submissions, and ensuring accuracy under tight deadlines. Attention to detail is crucial, as even minor oversights can impact a card's value. To overcome these challenges, graders should regularly review grading guidelines, stay updated on industry standards, and collaborate with experienced team members for quality checks. Effective time management and open communication with colleagues help ensure a smooth workflow and high-quality results.

What is the difference between Card Grader vs Card Appraiser?

AspectCard GraderCard Appraiser
CredentialsTypically requires certification from industry organizationsOften requires certification and expertise in valuation
Work EnvironmentLaboratory or grading facility, handling cards for assessmentField or office-based, evaluating card value and authenticity
Industry UsageCommonly used in collectibles and trading card industriesUsed in collectibles, insurance, and auction sectors
Search & Comparison IntentFocuses on grading quality and conditionFocuses on valuation and market worth

While both roles involve evaluating trading cards, Card Graders primarily assess the condition and quality of cards to assign grades, whereas Card Appraisers determine the market value and worth of cards for buying, selling, or insurance purposes.

How do you get a job as a card grader?

To become a card grader, candidates typically need a high school diploma or equivalent, attention to detail, and knowledge of trading cards or collectibles. Gaining experience through internships or entry-level positions in collectibles or grading companies can improve chances, and some roles may require familiarity with grading tools and standards. Certification programs are available but not always mandatory.

How much money do card graders make?

Card graders typically earn between $10 and $20 per hour, with annual salaries ranging from approximately $20,000 to $40,000 depending on experience and employer. Some positions may offer additional benefits or bonuses, especially for those with specialized skills or certifications in grading standards.
Infographic showing various Card Grader job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 89% Full Time, and 11% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $35,069 per year, or $16.9 per hour.

Senior Software Engineer (Card Present)

EBizCharge

Irvine, CA • On-site

$129K - $171K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 20 days ago


Job description

Job Summary:
EBizCharge is headquartered in Irvine, California, specializing in integrated payment solutions for various applications. They are seeking a Senior Software Engineer to expand their Card Present platform, focusing on developing backend services for payment transactions and ensuring compliance with industry standards.
Responsibilities:
• Design, develop, and maintain backend services that manage communication between payment terminals and our processing infrastructure, supporting EMV chip, NFC/contactless, and magnetic stripe transaction flows.
• Integrate with device management platforms and terminal SDKs including solutions such as Clover, Stripe Terminal, Square, and similar off-the-shelf card present providers, adapting their APIs to fit our platform architecture.
• Implement and maintain device hub capabilities including terminal provisioning, configuration management, firmware coordination, and health monitoring.
• Own and drive EMV Level 3 certification efforts in partnership with payment networks and device vendors, coordinating test plans, managing certification tooling, and resolving certification findings.
• Design and build card-present infrastructure with international markets in mind, accounting for regional EMV implementation differences, multi-currency support, and varying certification requirements across acquiring markets.
• Build scalable, maintainable backend services using .NET and C#, adhering to established architectural patterns and contributing to their evolution.
• Implement robust retry logic, timeout handling, and graceful degradation to ensure transaction integrity even in the presence of network instability or device failures.
• Write secure code that meets PCI DSS requirements across all card-present transaction flows, with a particular focus on cardholder data handling, encryption, and key management.
• Apply point-to-point encryption (P2PE) and tokenization standards correctly within device integration and transaction processing layers.
• Act as a technical resource and mentor for junior and mid-level engineers on the squad, supporting their growth through pair programming, code review feedback, and knowledge sharing.
• Document card-present domain knowledge including certification processes, integration quirks, device-specific behaviors.
Qualifications:
Required:
• Strong proficiency in C# and the .NET ecosystem, with experience building production-grade backend services and APIs.
• Hands-on experience with EMV payment flows including chip, contactless/NFC, and magnetic stripe, ideally including direct involvement in EMV Level 3 certification processes.
• Experience integrating with payment terminal hardware and device management platforms, with an understanding of terminal communication protocols (TLV, ISO 8583, or similar).
• Solid understanding of PCI DSS requirements as they apply to card-present environments, including encryption, key injection, and secure cardholder data handling.
• Experience designing and building RESTful APIs with a focus on clarity, versioning, and reliability.
• Proven ability to build low-latency, high-reliability backend services in a payments or similarly demanding production environment.
• Direct experience with Clover, Stripe Terminal, Square, or similar off-the-shelf card present platforms and their developer SDKs.
• Familiarity with EMV kernel development/customization, regional EMV certification requirements and acquiring bank differences across international markets.
• Background working with Ingenico, Verifone, PAX, or other terminal hardware vendors.
• Experience with network tokenization or scheme token management in a card-present context.
Company:
EBizCharge is a payment collection tool that helps businesses facilitate electronic payment processing. Founded in 2004, the company is headquartered in Irvine, USA, with a team of 201-500 employees. The company is currently Growth Stage.