SDET jobs in Chicago, United States
SDET pay in Chicago centres on $130k at mid-level, from $110k to $160k. Chicago has about 2.7 million residents and is the 3rd largest of the 62 United States cities we list. PassRidge lists 1 open SDET role based here.
SDET roles near Chicago
No SDET listing is based in Chicago today, so these are the nearest in United States, then the levels we place here. Placement pay starts at the higher of the city and national median.
Senior SDET - Architect
SDET Intern
SDET - Dallas, TX
SDET I
Junior SDET
SDET
Senior SDET
Lead SDET
"Talent pipeline" cards are the levels we place, not an employer's vacancy. Real postings are labelled "Market listing". How pay is set.
SDET pay by level in Chicago
Gross annual pay in USD. Chicago is 1.00× the United States median (same), which is $130k at mid-level.
| Level | p10 | Median | p90 | Range | Median (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Junior | $82k | $100k | $120k | $100k | |
| Mid-level | $110k | $130k | $160k | $130k | |
| Senior | $140k | $170k | $200k | $170k | |
| Lead | $160k | $200k | $240k | $200k |
Estimates from posted pay ranges, base pay only. Full SDET salary page for Chicago.
What a SDET does in Chicago
Software engineer who owns test infrastructure, tooling and quality gates.
- Design test frameworks and shared libraries used by several teams
- Build test environments, fixtures and service virtualisation
- Review production code for testability
- Own quality gates in the delivery pipeline
- Mentor developers on writing reliable tests
Skills and stack employers ask for
Tools named most often
Time zone
Chicago is on America/Chicago. A 09:00-17:00 day shares 7 h with US East, 2 h with London and 1 h with Central Europe.
SDET jobs in other United States cities
| City | Mid-level median | |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $150k | SDET jobs |
| Los Angeles | $140k | SDET jobs |
| Houston | $130k | SDET jobs |
| Phoenix | $130k | SDET jobs |
| Philadelphia | $120k | SDET jobs |
| San Antonio | $120k | SDET jobs |
| San Diego | $130k | SDET jobs |
| Dallas | $130k | SDET jobs |
Other QA roles in Chicago
QA jobs, time zone and hiring facts for Chicago · SDET role guide · Hire a SDET
SDET jobs in Chicago: FAQ
How much does a SDET earn in Chicago?
A mid-level SDET in Chicago earns a median of $130k a year ($130k), with a p10 to p90 range of $110k to $160k. Junior pay starts near $100k, senior pay is $170k and leads reach $200k.
Are there SDET jobs in Chicago?
Yes: 1 open SDET role is based in Chicago right now, 0 of them remote, and 148 in United States. Tell us your city and we alert you when a local role opens.
How does Chicago pay compare with the rest of United States?
Chicago ranks 13th of 62 United States cities we track for SDET pay, at 1.00x the national median (0%). The national mid-level median is $130k, so Chicago is at it.
What skills do SDET jobs in Chicago ask for?
Software engineer who owns test infrastructure, tooling and quality gates. Typical requirements: Strong programming (Java / C# / Python / TS), Design patterns, CI/CD and containers, Distributed systems basics, Code review. The tools named most often are Playwright, REST Assured, Docker, GitHub Actions.
Can a SDET work with US or European teams from Chicago?
Chicago is on America/Chicago. A 09:00-17:00 day shares about 7 h with US East, 2 h with London and 1 h with Central Europe. 75% of SDET roles are remote-friendly.
How do I get a SDET job in Chicago with PassRidge?
Tell us your level and stack in the form on this page. A recruiter sends matching roles with the pay shown upfront; it is free for candidates and nothing goes to an employer without your written OK. Our placement range for Chicago starts at the higher of the city and national median.