Pay by Role
South Korea · Salary comparison

QA Engineer vs Software Engineer salary

In South Korea, a qa engineer earns about 89% more than a software engineer $108,384 vs $57,203 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
QA Engineer
$108,384/yr
Monthly
$9,032
Hourly
$52
Range
$73,267$151,304
10-yr outlook
+20%
Technology
Software Engineer
$57,203/yr
Monthly
$4,767
Hourly
$28
Range
$36,610$82,372
10-yr outlook
+17%

Pay range, side by side

PercentileQA EngineerSoftware Engineer
Entry (10th)$73,267$36,610
25th$90,826$46,906
Median$108,384$57,203
75th$129,844$69,787
Senior (90th)$151,304$82,372

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

More Technology comparisons

Frequently asked questions

Does a qa engineer or software engineer earn more in South Korea?
A qa engineer earns more, at about ₩162,720,000 per year vs ₩85,880,000 for a software engineer — roughly 89% (₩76,840,000) more.
What is the salary range for these roles in South Korea?
A qa engineer typically earns ₩109,998,700–₩227,157,100, while a software engineer earns ₩54,963,200–₩123,667,200 per year.
How much do these jobs pay per month in South Korea?
On a monthly basis before tax, a qa engineer averages about ₩13,560,000 and a software engineer about ₩7,156,700.
How do entry-level salaries compare?
At the 10th percentile in South Korea, a qa engineer earns about ₩109,998,700 while a software engineer earns about ₩54,963,200 per year.
How do senior-level salaries compare?
At the 90th percentile in South Korea, a qa engineer earns about ₩227,157,100 while a software engineer earns about ₩123,667,200 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.