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PassRidge sends a first shortlist for a Technical Writer (QA / Docs) in about 4 working days from a complete brief. Each candidate has completed a role-specific assignment that we review. A mid-level hire in the US has a market median of $90k a year; the placement fee is 15-22% of first-year pay, due after the start date.
Reply within one working day. Candidates stay anonymous until they agree to an introduction.
The same vetted candidates under four contracts. Figures are for a mid-level hire, from the market median for this role.
A one-time placement fee after the start date. The engineer joins your payroll.
US, mid-level: $90k median pay, fee $16,200 (18%)
PricingAn engineer on a fixed term, billed monthly at pay rate plus 22%.
US, mid-level: $74 an hour to you, $60 an hour to the engineer
PricingAugmentation, a dedicated team, project work or managed QA from one hourly rate.
Mid-level from $38 an hour, $81 in the US
ModelsVetted testers for 3-4 hours a day on a scoped task, for one to three weeks.
Task rate plus a 30% fee, billed on approved hours
PricingCompare a permanent hire, a contractor and each outsourcing model for this role. Change the inputs and the figures update. It is the same calculator as on the pricing page.
The calculator needs JavaScript. The tables below list the same figures for Technical Writer (QA / Docs) by region and level.
Estimates for planning, not a quote. Permanent hire includes employer on-costs (15-32% by region), the placement fee and $3,600 a year for equipment and software. Outsourcing models bill 150 hours a month on average (1,800 a year after leave and public holidays). Management time, severance and exchange-rate movements are not included.
Pay is the market median for the role and level. Every rate below sits on top of it; none is lower.
US dollars a year: market median pay by region and level, and the placement fee under it. Ranges span the countries in each region.
| Region | Junior | Mid | Senior | Lead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United StatesNew York, Austin, San Francisco | $69kfee $11k | $90kfee $17k | $120kfee $24k | $140kfee $31k |
| United KingdomLondon, Manchester, Edinburgh | $41kfee $7k | $54kfee $10k | $70kfee $14k | $85kfee $19k |
| Western EuropeBerlin, Amsterdam, Lisbon, Barcelona | $23–42kfee $4–7k | $31–55kfee $6–10k | $41–72kfee $9–15k | $48–87kfee $11–20k |
| Central & Eastern EuropeWarsaw, Krakow, Prague, Bucharest | $21–28kfee $4–5k | $27–37kfee $5–7k | $35–48kfee $7–10k | $43–58kfee $10–13k |
| Latin AmericaSao Paulo, Buenos Aires, Mexico City, Bogota | $28–33kfee $5k | $36–43kfee $7–8k | $48–56kfee $10–12k | $58–68kfee $13–15k |
| AsiaBengaluru, Pune, Manila, Kuala Lumpur | $12–16kfee $2–3k | $15–21kfee $3–4k | $20–27kfee $4–6k | $23–34kfee $6–8k |
Swipe the table sideways to see every level.
US dollars an hour. The large figure is what you pay PassRidge. The small figure is the engineer's pay rate.
| Region | Junior | Mid | Senior | Lead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United StatesNew York, Austin, San Francisco | $57pay $46 | $74pay $60 | $98pay $80 | $114pay $94 |
| United KingdomLondon, Manchester, Edinburgh | $33pay $28 | $44pay $36 | $57pay $47 | $69pay $57 |
| Western EuropeBerlin, Amsterdam, Lisbon, Barcelona | $19–34pay $16–28 | $25–45pay $21–37 | $33–59pay $27–48 | $39–71pay $32–58 |
| Central & Eastern EuropeWarsaw, Krakow, Prague, Bucharest | $17–23pay $14–19 | $22–30pay $18–25 | $29–39pay $24–32 | $35–47pay $29–39 |
| Latin AmericaSao Paulo, Buenos Aires, Mexico City, Bogota | $23–27pay $19–22 | $30–35pay $24–29 | $39–46pay $32–38 | $47–55pay $39–45 |
| AsiaBengaluru, Pune, Manila, Kuala Lumpur | $9–13pay $8–11 | $12–17pay $10–14 | $16–22pay $13–18 | $19–28pay $16–23 |
Swipe the table sideways to see every level.
US dollars an hour for staff augmentation. Dedicated teams and managed QA are on the pricing page.
| Region | Junior | Mid | Senior | Lead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United StatesNew York, Austin, San Francisco | $62 | $81 | $108 | $126 |
| United KingdomLondon, Manchester, Edinburgh | $36 | $47 | $61 | $74 |
| Western EuropeBerlin, Amsterdam, Lisbon, Barcelona | $33–40 | $38–52 | $50–69 | $59–83 |
| Central & Eastern EuropeWarsaw, Krakow, Prague, Bucharest | $33 | $38 | $50 | $59 |
| Latin AmericaSao Paulo, Buenos Aires, Mexico City, Bogota | $33 | $38–41 | $50–54 | $59–66 |
| AsiaBengaluru, Pune, Manila, Kuala Lumpur | $33 | $38 | $50 | $59 |
Swipe the table sideways to see every level.
Contract and outsourced rates include on-costs and margin; the method is on the pricing page. Prices in US dollars.
Six stages, with the assignment written for this role. We describe the stages instead of quoting pass rates: they change with the market and the brief.
A 15-minute call or the request form: role, level, stack, time zone, budget range. We tell you the same day whether the range fits the market.
We search our network of QA professionals by stack and evidence, not keyword. Recruiters who have tested software read the profiles.
Each candidate completes a short, role-specific assignment. We review the output ourselves, and you get the results with the profile.
For this role: Write a test plan and a user-facing procedure for a feature we describe, then review a draft for ambiguity and missing steps.
Motivation, availability, pay expectations and right to work are confirmed, and the candidate agrees to the introduction.
Up to three profiles, anonymised until the candidate consents, each with assignment results, expected pay and notice period.
We coordinate interviews, references and the offer. For contract roles we handle onboarding and contracts. The fee is due after the start date.
Tip for your brief: Say what the documents are for: a regulator, a customer, a new hire or a test team. The audience sets the style.
An anonymised profile typical for this role. Real profiles carry the same four parts, and the name and employer stay hidden until the candidate agrees to an introduction.
Assignment: Write a test plan and a user-facing procedure for a feature we describe, then review a draft for ambiguity and missing steps.
Choose a level and a country. The pay line starts at the market median for that level, so candidates see an honest range. Edit the team line to fit your product.
Technical Writer (QA / Docs) (mid level) Location: Remote, based in United States Pay: $90k–$110k a year Experience: 3-5 years in software testing About the role We are hiring a Technical Writer (QA / Docs) (mid level) to join our product engineering team. Writes the test documentation, runbooks and API docs engineers actually use. What you will do - Write test plans, runbooks and release notes - Document APIs and keep examples runnable - Edit specs for testability and clarity - Maintain docs-as-code pipelines - Interview engineers and QA to capture tacit knowledge What we are looking for - 3-5 years in software testing - Technical writing - Docs-as-code - API documentation - Markdown and Git - Information design - Hands-on with Jira, Postman, or tools like them - Clear written English: bug reports and test notes others can act on How we hire 1. A conversation with a recruiter about the role, your pay expectations and your start date 2. Role-specific exercise. Write a test plan and a user-facing procedure for a feature we describe, then review a draft for ambiguity and missing steps. 3. An interview with the engineers you will work with 4. An offer, with the pay range stated above
Test plans, test-case libraries, validation documents, release notes, runbooks and user guides that have been verified against the product.
When documentation is a deliverable: regulated industries, platform APIs, or any product where support tickets come from unclear instructions.
The median for this role is 4 working days from a complete brief. The assignment review is the longest step, and a brief with a clear stack and pay range shortens it. If your requirements are unusual we say so on the first call.
Permanent placement is 15-22% of first-year base salary by level, paid after the hire starts. For a mid-level hire in the US that is $16,200 on a market median of $90k. Contract engineers are billed at the pay rate plus 22%. Use the calculator above for your country and team size.
If a permanent hire leaves, or is dismissed for performance, within 90 days of starting, we run a replacement search at no extra fee. This is a clause in the client agreement, not a marketing promise.
No. Every shortlisted candidate has completed a role-specific technical assignment that we review, and a recruiter who has worked in testing has spoken to them. You get the assignment results with the profile.
Yes. We recruit in 53 countries. For permanent hires abroad we can act as employer of record where you have no local entity. Contract engineers invoice through our local entity.
Send level, country and a budget range. A recruiter confirms within one working day whether the range fits the market, and the first shortlist follows in about 4 working days.
Tell us the role you want or the role you need. A QA-only recruiter replies within one working day.