Pay by Role
Japan · Salary comparison

QA Engineer vs Software Engineer salary

In Japan, a qa engineer earns about 56% more than a software engineer $100,692 vs $64,369 per year.

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

Pays more
Technology
QA Engineer
$100,692/yr
Monthly
$8,391
Hourly
$48
Range
$68,068$140,566
10-yr outlook
+20%
Technology
Software Engineer
$64,369/yr
Monthly
$5,364
Hourly
$31
Range
$41,196$92,691
10-yr outlook
+17%

Pay range, side by side

PercentileQA EngineerSoftware Engineer
Entry (10th)$68,068$41,196
25th$84,380$52,782
Median$100,692$64,369
75th$120,629$78,530
Senior (90th)$140,566$92,691

National Japan figures in JPY. Individual pay varies with experience, employer, and location.

More Technology comparisons

Frequently asked questions

Does a qa engineer or software engineer earn more in Japan?
A qa engineer earns more, at about ¥16,300,000 per year vs ¥10,420,000 for a software engineer — roughly 56% (¥5,880,000) more.
What is the salary range for these roles in Japan?
A qa engineer typically earns ¥11,018,800–¥22,754,800, while a software engineer earns ¥6,668,800–¥15,004,800 per year.
How much do these jobs pay per month in Japan?
On a monthly basis before tax, a qa engineer averages about ¥1,358,300 and a software engineer about ¥868,300.
How do entry-level salaries compare?
At the 10th percentile in Japan, a qa engineer earns about ¥11,018,800 while a software engineer earns about ¥6,668,800 per year.
How do senior-level salaries compare?
At the 90th percentile in Japan, a qa engineer earns about ¥22,754,800 while a software engineer earns about ¥15,004,800 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.