Pay by Role
Australia · Salary comparison

Data Scientist vs QA Engineer salary

In Australia, a qa engineer earns about 9% more than a data scientist $158,919 vs $146,428 per year.

Showing amounts in USD (USD default; source data is AUD). FX as of Mon, 13 Jul 2026 00:02:31 +0000. Convert currencies

Technology
Data Scientist
$146,428/yr
Monthly
$12,214
Hourly
$70
Range
$91,049$214,090
10-yr outlook
+35%
Pays more
Technology
QA Engineer
$158,919/yr
Monthly
$13,255
Hourly
$76
Range
$107,427$221,863
10-yr outlook
+20%

Pay range, side by side

PercentileData ScientistQA Engineer
Entry (10th)$91,049$107,427
25th$118,738$133,173
Median$146,428$158,919
75th$180,224$190,356
Senior (90th)$214,090$221,863

National Australia figures in AUD. Individual pay varies with experience, employer, and location.

More Technology comparisons

Frequently asked questions

Does a data scientist or qa engineer earn more in Australia?
A qa engineer earns more, at about $229,000 per year vs $211,000 for a data scientist — roughly 9% ($18,000) more.
What is the salary range for these roles in Australia?
A data scientist typically earns $131,200–$308,500, while a qa engineer earns $154,800–$319,700 per year.
How much do these jobs pay per month in Australia?
On a monthly basis before tax, a data scientist averages about $17,600 and a qa engineer about $19,100.
How do entry-level salaries compare?
At the 10th percentile in Australia, a data scientist earns about $131,200 while a qa engineer earns about $154,800 per year.
How do senior-level salaries compare?
At the 90th percentile in Australia, a data scientist earns about $308,500 while a qa engineer earns about $319,700 per year.
Are data scientist and qa engineer similar careers?
Both roles sit in the Technology category on Pay by Role, which is why we compare them head-to-head. Day-to-day work still differs — review each job page for skills and outlook.