Pay by Role
South Korea · Salary comparison

Data Engineer vs QA Engineer salary

In South Korea, a data engineer earns about 43% more than a qa engineer $154,729 vs $108,384 per year.

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

Pays more
Technology
Data Engineer
$154,729/yr
Monthly
$12,894
Hourly
$74
Range
$99,027$222,810
10-yr outlook
+30%
Technology
QA Engineer
$108,384/yr
Monthly
$9,032
Hourly
$52
Range
$73,267$151,304
10-yr outlook
+20%

Pay range, side by side

PercentileData EngineerQA Engineer
Entry (10th)$99,027$73,267
25th$126,878$90,826
Median$154,729$108,384
75th$188,770$129,844
Senior (90th)$222,810$151,304

National South Korea figures in KRW. Individual pay varies with experience, employer, and location.

More Technology comparisons

Frequently asked questions

Does a data engineer or qa engineer earn more in South Korea?
A data engineer earns more, at about ₩232,300,000 per year vs ₩162,720,000 for a qa engineer — roughly 43% (₩69,580,000) more.
What is the salary range for these roles in South Korea?
A data engineer typically earns ₩148,672,000–₩334,512,000, while a qa engineer earns ₩109,998,700–₩227,157,100 per year.
How much do these jobs pay per month in South Korea?
On a monthly basis before tax, a data engineer averages about ₩19,358,300 and a qa engineer about ₩13,560,000.
How do entry-level salaries compare?
At the 10th percentile in South Korea, a data engineer earns about ₩148,672,000 while a qa engineer earns about ₩109,998,700 per year.
How do senior-level salaries compare?
At the 90th percentile in South Korea, a data engineer earns about ₩334,512,000 while a qa engineer earns about ₩227,157,100 per year.
Are data engineer 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.