Key findings
- Fastest to start: Project-based testing (7 days). Slowest: Dedicated QA team (21 days).
- Lowest starting rate: Dedicated QA team (from $34/h). Highest: Managed QA (QAaaS) (from $48/h).
- At 1,800 billable hours a year, the lowest starting rate is $61k and the highest $86k a year per full-time-equivalent seat.
- Minimum terms run from 2 weeks (project-based testing) to 6 months (dedicated team, managed QA).
01The five models
Every model answers the same question differently: who manages the work, and for how long?
| Model | From per hour | Typical start | Minimum term | Choose it when |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| QA staff augmentation | $38 | 10 days | 3 months | You have a lead and a backlog but not enough hands. |
| Dedicated QA team | $34 | 21 days | 6 months | You need a team, a lead and a process, not just seats. |
| Project-based testing | $42 | 7 days | 2 weeks | You have a release, a migration or an audit with a hard date. |
| Managed QA (QAaaS) | $48 | 21 days | 6 months | You have no QA function and want outcomes, not headcount. |
| Contract-to-hire | $36 | 10 days | 3 months | You want to hire but need to see the work before you commit. |
Rates are starting rates from PassRidge's published outsourcing draft rates. Your quote depends on role mix, level, region and term; see pricing.
02What the rates add up to
Multiplying the starting hourly rate by 1,800 billable hours gives a rough annual cost per full-time seat. It is arithmetic, not a quote, and the 1,800-hour figure is our assumption.
| Model | From per hour | x 1,800 hours |
|---|---|---|
| Dedicated QA team | $34 | $61k |
| Contract-to-hire | $36 | $65k |
| QA staff augmentation | $38 | $68k |
| Project-based testing | $42 | $76k |
| Managed QA (QAaaS) | $48 | $86k |
For reference, the median posted US annual pay for QA Automation Engineers and SDETs is $140k (n=108 midpoints). A salary excludes employer taxes, benefits, equipment, recruiting and management time, and outsourcing rates depend on the delivery region, so compare total cost, not salary and rate. The Team Cost Calculator does that comparison by region.
03How each model runs
- QA staff augmentation. Add vetted QA engineers to your team, under your management. Best when: you have a lead and a backlog but not enough hands. How it runs: Brief: role, stack, time-zone overlap; shortlist of 3 profiles; two-week trial; monthly rolling contract. Read more.
- Dedicated QA team. A stable QA squad that works only on your product. Best when: you need a team, a lead and a process, not just seats. How it runs: Scope and team design; lead plus testers assembled; onboarding sprint; quarterly review. Read more.
- Project-based testing. Fixed scope, fixed price: a release tested, an app audited. Best when: you have a release, a migration or an audit with a hard date. How it runs: Scoping call; test plan and quote; execution with daily reports; final report and handover. Read more.
- Managed QA (QAaaS). We run QA end to end and report against agreed SLAs. Best when: you have no QA function and want outcomes, not headcount. How it runs: Quality baseline; strategy and tooling; run and report; continuous improvement. Read more.
- Contract-to-hire. Work together first, convert to your payroll when it fits. Best when: you want to hire but need to see the work before you commit. How it runs: Brief and shortlist; 3-6 month contract; conversion decision; placement, fee credited by months worked. Read more.
04Choosing between them
A short way to choose:
| Your situation | Look at |
|---|---|
| You have a QA lead and a backlog, and need hands | Staff augmentation |
| You need a team and a process, not just seats | Dedicated QA team |
| You have a release, a migration or an audit with a date | Project-based testing |
| You have no QA function and want outcomes | Managed QA |
| You want to hire, but want to see the work first | Contract-to-hire |
05Method and limits
Rates, start times and terms come from PassRidge's published outsourcing models (draft rates). Annual cost uses 1,800 billable hours a year, which is our assumption. The posted pay reference comes from 108 public US postings.
Sample: 3,863 public postings harvested 20 Oct 2026 from employer career pages and public job feeds. Listings are postings, not people or confirmed openings: one role open in several cities counts several times (2,417 distinct titles across 3,863 postings). PassRidge talent-pipeline roles (149) are excluded from every statistic.
The method for roles, tools and pay is documented on our salary methodology page. Spot an error? Write to [email protected].