What do SDETs and QA engineers earn, and how do I negotiate a raise or offer?
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What do SDETs and QA engineers earn, and how do I negotiate a raise or offer?
Asked Sep 28, 2026Viewed 0 times
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- The SDET PlaybookSep 28, 2026
In the US, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a May 2025 median of $104,300 for software quality assurance analysts and testers, against $135,980 for software developers, with the wage range for testers running from roughly $61,000 (10th percentile) to $167,000 (90th percentile). The global 2026 State of Testing survey shows North American respondents averaging about $89,000 at 6-10 years of experience and about $132,000 at 10+ years, with the best pay at large but not massive companies and higher average pay among respondents who use Playwright, use AI, or report strong communication skills (correlations, not proof of cause). To negotiate, research market data for your exact role, level and location, wait for a written offer, counter with a specific range tied to that data, and negotiate total compensation (base, bonus, equity, sign-on), not base alone. These are reference points, not advice tailored to your situation.
Sources: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, PractiTest 2026 State of Testing, Monster negotiation guide, Candor