QA Engineer salary by region
| Region | Typical annual pay |
|---|---|
| United StatesNational range; SF/NYC skew higher. | $85,000 – $125,000 |
| United KingdomNational range; London skews higher. | £65,000 – £95,000 |
| European UnionVaries widely by country. | €75,000 – €110,000 |
Ranges are directional benchmarks for budgeting, not offers. Actual pay depends on location, company stage, and the candidate’s track record.
Salary factors for QA Engineer
Seniority is the biggest lever (mid–senior is the common band for this role), followed by the depth of these skills:
- 3+ years QA experience with hands-on test automation (Selenium, Cypress, or Playwright)
- Fluent in at least one programming language (Python, JavaScript, or Java) for writing robust test scripts
- Experience testing web applications and APIs, including REST/GraphQL endpoints
- Strong SQL knowledge to validate database changes and test data integrity
- Comfortable with CI/CD pipelines (GitHub Actions, CircleCI, Jenkins) and running tests in automated workflows
- Proficiency in test management and bug-tracking tools (Jira, TestRail, or similar)
Why companies invest in QA Engineer
SMBs scale products fast and can't afford production defects that damage reputation or revenue. You reduce that risk by catching issues early and building repeatable test processes.
When you are ready to hire
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