Pay by Role
United Kingdom · Salary comparison

QA Engineer vs Software Engineer salary

In United Kingdom, a qa engineer earns about 9% more than a software engineer $137,887 vs $126,374 per year.

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

Pays more
Technology
QA Engineer
$137,887/yr
Monthly
$11,513
Hourly
$67
Range
$93,174$192,506
10-yr outlook
+20%
Technology
Software Engineer
$126,374/yr
Monthly
$10,576
Hourly
$60
Range
$80,858$181,930
10-yr outlook
+17%

Pay range, side by side

PercentileQA EngineerSoftware Engineer
Entry (10th)$93,174$80,858
25th$115,530$103,616
Median$137,887$126,374
75th$165,196$154,219
Senior (90th)$192,506$181,930

National United Kingdom figures in GBP. Individual pay varies with experience, employer, and location.

More Technology comparisons

Frequently asked questions

Does a qa engineer or software engineer earn more in United Kingdom?
A qa engineer earns more, at about £103,000 per year vs £94,400 for a software engineer — roughly 9% (£8,600) more.
What is the salary range for these roles in United Kingdom?
A qa engineer typically earns £69,600–£143,800, while a software engineer earns £60,400–£135,900 per year.
How much do these jobs pay per month in United Kingdom?
On a monthly basis before tax, a qa engineer averages about £8,600 and a software engineer about £7,900.
How do entry-level salaries compare?
At the 10th percentile in United Kingdom, a qa engineer earns about £69,600 while a software engineer earns about £60,400 per year.
How do senior-level salaries compare?
At the 90th percentile in United Kingdom, a qa engineer earns about £143,800 while a software engineer earns about £135,900 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.