Pay by Role
Australia · Salary comparison

QA Engineer vs Systems Administrator salary

In Australia, a qa engineer earns about 16% more than a systems administrator — $158,919 vs $136,712 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

Pays more
Technology
QA Engineer
$158,919/yr
Monthly
$13,255
Hourly
$76
Range
$107,427–$221,863
10-yr outlook
+20%
Technology
Systems Administrator
$136,712/yr
Monthly
$11,381
Hourly
$66
Range
$94,866–$187,858
10-yr outlook
+4%

Pay range, side by side

PercentileQA EngineerSystems Administrator
Entry (10th)$107,427$94,866
25th$133,173$115,824
Median$158,919$136,712
75th$190,356$162,250
Senior (90th)$221,863$187,858

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

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Frequently asked questions

Does a qa engineer or systems administrator earn more in Australia?
A qa engineer earns more, at about $229,000 per year vs $197,000 for a systems administrator — roughly 16% ($32,000) more.
What is the salary range for these roles in Australia?
A qa engineer typically earns $154,800–$319,700, while a systems administrator earns $136,700–$270,700 per year.
How much do these jobs pay per month in Australia?
On a monthly basis before tax, a qa engineer averages about $19,100 and a systems administrator about $16,400.
How do entry-level salaries compare?
At the 10th percentile in Australia, a qa engineer earns about $154,800 while a systems administrator earns about $136,700 per year.
How do senior-level salaries compare?
At the 90th percentile in Australia, a qa engineer earns about $319,700 while a systems administrator earns about $270,700 per year.
Are qa engineer and systems administrator 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.