Manual QA Tester salary in United Kingdom
The median gross salary for a mid-level Manual QA Tester in United Kingdom is £38k ($48k), with most offers between £31k and £46k. That is 41% below the US median for the same role. United Kingdom ranks 11 of 36 countries on our pay index. Juniors start near £29k, leads reach £56k.
Manual QA Tester pay by level in United Kingdom
Gross annual pay in GBP. Junior pay is £29k, lead pay is £56k: leads earn 90% more. The bar spans p10 to p90 with the median marked.
| Level | p10 | Median | p90 | Range | Median (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Junior | £24k | £29k | £36k | $37k | |
| Mid-level | £31k | £38k | £46k | $48k | |
| Senior | £39k | £47k | £58k | $60k | |
| Lead | £46k | £56k | £68k | $71k |
Estimates from posted pay ranges, base pay only. p10 and p90 are 0.82× and 1.22× the median. Methodology.
Manual QA Tester pay by city in United Kingdom
London pays most at 1.18× the national median. Pay factor 1.00 equals the country median of £38k. Showing the top 8 of 20 cities.
| City | Tier | Pay factor | Mid-level median | p10–p90 | USD | QA jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | A | 1.18× (+18%) | £45k | £37k–£55k | $57k | 61 |
| Edinburgh | A | 1.00× (0%) | £38k | £31k–£46k | $48k | 3 |
| Birmingham | B | 0.97× (-3%) | £37k | £30k–£45k | $47k | 3 |
| Manchester | A | 0.96× (-4%) | £37k | £30k–£45k | $46k | 10 |
| Belfast | B | 0.95× (-5%) | £36k | £30k–£44k | $46k | 1 |
| Glasgow | B | 0.95× (-5%) | £36k | £30k–£44k | $46k | 2 |
| Leeds | B | 0.94× (-6%) | £36k | £29k–£44k | $45k | 5 |
| Bristol | B | 0.93× (-7%) | £35k | £29k–£43k | $45k | 7 |
City factors are estimates (tier A = largest tech hubs). Remote roles are paid to the employer's pay band, which can differ from the city rate.
From gross to take-home in United Kingdom
A mid-level Manual QA Tester on £38k gross keeps roughly 69–75% after income tax and social contributions, about £26k to £28k a year.
In United Kingdom, pay is usually quoted as annual salary for permanent roles, day rates for contract roles. Estimate only: a single earner with no dependants and typical deductions. Bonuses, benefits, pension choices and regional taxes change the result. It is not tax advice.
Live Manual QA Tester roles in United Kingdom
46 Manual QA Tester roles are open in United Kingdom, from a total of 185 QA listings in the country.
Tester
Quality Assurance Administrator / Document Controller
Member Experience Training & Quality Specialist
29 listings in United Kingdom show a real posted pay range (7 for Manual QA Tester). Others carry a model estimate marked “est.”.
Who hires Manual QA Testers in United Kingdom
Employer mix by share of listings (185 listings in United Kingdom). Names are withheld; we show the type of company.
- AI companies35%
- Software companies15%
- E-commerce companies12%
- Games studios12%
- Cybersecurity companies9%
What this estimate rests on
The Manual QA Tester baseline uses 911 US posted pay ranges. For United Kingdom, the country index is calibrated on 210 non-US observations in UK & Ireland, so the regional sample is usable but still modest. Evidence score 8 of 8.
Manual QA Tester salary and jobs by city in United Kingdom
Manual QA Tester salary in United Kingdom: FAQ
What is the average Manual QA Tester salary in United Kingdom?
The median gross salary for a mid-level Manual QA Tester in United Kingdom is £38k a year ($48k). The p10 is £31k and the p90 is £46k. This is an estimate based on posted pay ranges.
How much does a senior Manual QA Tester earn in United Kingdom?
A senior Manual QA Tester in United Kingdom earns a median of £47k ($60k), with a range of £39k to £58k. Leads earn £56k, 90% more than juniors at £29k.
Which city in United Kingdom pays Manual QA Testers the most?
London has the highest pay factor at 1.18x the country median, which puts a mid-level Manual QA Tester at about £45k ($57k). Swansea sits at 0.88x, around £34k.
How does United Kingdom compare with the US for Manual QA Tester pay?
A mid-level Manual QA Tester in the US earns a median of $82k. In United Kingdom the equivalent is $48k, which is 41% below the US figure. United Kingdom ranks 11 of 36 countries; the UK & Ireland median for this role is $53k.
What is the take-home pay for a Manual QA Tester in United Kingdom?
Roughly 69–75% of gross stays after income tax and social contributions for a single mid-level earner, which is about £26k to £28k a year on a £38k gross salary. This is a generic estimate, not tax advice: benefits, family status and regional taxes change the result.
How many Manual QA Tester jobs are open in United Kingdom?
PassRidge lists 46 live Manual QA Tester roles in United Kingdom, and 185 QA listings across all roles in United Kingdom. 7 of the Manual QA Tester listings and 29 of all listings in the country show a real posted pay range; the rest carry a model estimate.
Other roles in United Kingdom
| Role | Mid-level median | USD |
|---|---|---|
| QA Automation Engineer | £56k | $71k |
| SDET | £61k | $77k |
| QA Lead / Manager | £51k | $65k |
| Mobile QA Engineer | £49k | $62k |
| Performance Test Engineer | £68k | $86k |
| Security / Penetration Tester | £84k | $110k |
| Game QA Tester | £31k | $39k |
| Accessibility Tester | £46k | $58k |
| Business / Test Analyst | £41k | $52k |
| Data / ETL QA Engineer | £46k | $59k |
| Localization QA Tester | £22k | $28k |
| AI / LLM Evaluation QA | £48k | $61k |
| Release / DevOps Engineer | £67k | $85k |
| Technical Writer (QA / Docs) | £42k | $53k |
World view: Manual QA Tester salary by country · Manual QA Tester role guide · Hire a Manual QA Tester · Salary finder.