Pay by Role
Germany · Salary comparison

QA Engineer vs Software Engineer salary

In Germany, a qa engineer earns about 13% more than a software engineer $149,409 vs $132,301 per year.

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

Pays more
Technology
QA Engineer
$149,409/yr
Monthly
$12,432
Hourly
$72
Range
$101,050$208,602
10-yr outlook
+20%
Technology
Software Engineer
$132,301/yr
Monthly
$11,063
Hourly
$64
Range
$84,627$190,468
10-yr outlook
+17%

Pay range, side by side

PercentileQA EngineerSoftware Engineer
Entry (10th)$101,050$84,627
25th$125,230$108,464
Median$149,409$132,301
75th$178,948$161,384
Senior (90th)$208,602$190,468

National Germany figures in EUR. Individual pay varies with experience, employer, and location.

More Technology comparisons

Frequently asked questions

Does a qa engineer or software engineer earn more in Germany?
A qa engineer earns more, at about 131.000 € per year vs 116.000 € for a software engineer — roughly 13% (15.000 €) more.
What is the salary range for these roles in Germany?
A qa engineer typically earns 88.600 €–182.900 €, while a software engineer earns 74.200 €–167.000 € per year.
How much do these jobs pay per month in Germany?
On a monthly basis before tax, a qa engineer averages about 10.900 € and a software engineer about 9.700 €.
How do entry-level salaries compare?
At the 10th percentile in Germany, a qa engineer earns about 88.600 € while a software engineer earns about 74.200 € per year.
How do senior-level salaries compare?
At the 90th percentile in Germany, a qa engineer earns about 182.900 € while a software engineer earns about 167.000 € per year.
Are qa engineer and software 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.