QA Lead / Manager salary in Australia
QA Lead / Manager pay in Australia centres on A$120k a year ($79k) at mid-level. Expect A$97k at the low end and A$140k at the high end. That is 28% below the US median for the same role. Australia ranks 4 of 36 countries on our pay index. Juniors start near A$92k, leads reach A$190k.
QA Lead / Manager pay by level in Australia
Gross annual pay in AUD. Junior pay is A$92k, lead pay is A$190k: leads earn 106% more. The bar spans p10 to p90 with the median marked.
| Level | p10 | Median | p90 | Range | Median (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Junior | A$75k | A$92k | A$110k | $61k | |
| Mid-level | A$97k | A$120k | A$140k | $79k | |
| Senior | A$120k | A$150k | A$180k | $100k | |
| Lead | A$150k | A$190k | A$230k | $130k |
Estimates from posted pay ranges, base pay only. p10 and p90 are 0.82× and 1.22× the median. Methodology.
QA Lead / Manager pay by city in Australia
Sydney pays most at 1.06× the national median. Pay factor 1.00 equals the country median of A$120k.
| City | Tier | Pay factor | Mid-level median | p10–p90 | USD | QA jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney | A | 1.06× (+6%) | A$130k | A$100k–A$150k | $84k | 22 |
| Melbourne | B | 1.00× (0%) | A$120k | A$97k–A$140k | $79k | 7 |
| Brisbane | B | 0.93× (-7%) | A$110k | A$90k–A$130k | $74k | 10 |
| Perth | C | 0.93× (-7%) | A$110k | A$90k–A$130k | $74k | 2 |
| Adelaide | C | 0.90× (-10%) | A$110k | A$88k–A$130k | $71k | 2 |
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 Australia
A mid-level QA Lead / Manager on A$120k gross keeps roughly 71–77% after income tax and social contributions, about A$85k to A$92k a year.
In Australia, pay is usually quoted as annual package, usually quoted with or without 11.5% superannuation. 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 QA Lead / Manager roles in Australia
10 QA Lead / Manager roles are open in Australia, from a total of 81 QA listings in the country.
Senior Performance Tester / Performance Test Lead
Test Automation Lead
Technical Test Lead | Automated Testing | Test automation framework design | Playwright
1 listing in Australia show a real posted pay range (0 for QA Lead / Manager). Others carry a model estimate marked “est.”.
Who hires QA Lead / Managers in Australia
Employer mix by share of listings (81 listings in Australia). Names are withheld; we show the type of company.
- Software companies28%
- E-commerce companies20%
- AI companies14%
- Games studios10%
- Automotive technology companies9%
What this estimate rests on
The QA Lead / Manager baseline uses 170 US posted pay ranges. For Australia, the country index is calibrated on 122 non-US observations in Asia-Pacific, so the regional sample is usable but still modest. Evidence score 5 of 8.
QA Lead / Manager salary and jobs by city in Australia
QA Lead / Manager jobs in Australia by city.
QA Lead / Manager salary in Australia: FAQ
What is the average QA Lead / Manager salary in Australia?
The median gross salary for a mid-level QA Lead / Manager in Australia is A$120k a year ($79k). The p10 is A$97k and the p90 is A$140k. This is an estimate based on posted pay ranges.
How much does a senior QA Lead / Manager earn in Australia?
A senior QA Lead / Manager in Australia earns a median of A$150k ($100k), with a range of A$120k to A$180k. Leads earn A$190k, 106% more than juniors at A$92k.
Which city in Australia pays QA Lead / Managers the most?
Sydney has the highest pay factor at 1.06x the country median, which puts a mid-level QA Lead / Manager at about A$130k ($84k). Adelaide sits at 0.90x, around A$110k.
How does Australia compare with the US for QA Lead / Manager pay?
A mid-level QA Lead / Manager in the US earns a median of $110k. In Australia the equivalent is $79k, which is 28% below the US figure. Australia ranks 4 of 36 countries; the Asia-Pacific median for this role is $48k.
What is the take-home pay for a QA Lead / Manager in Australia?
Roughly 71–77% of gross stays after income tax and social contributions for a single mid-level earner, which is about A$85k to A$92k a year on a A$120k gross salary. This is a generic estimate, not tax advice: benefits, family status and regional taxes change the result.
How many QA Lead / Manager jobs are open in Australia?
PassRidge lists 10 live QA Lead / Manager roles in Australia, and 81 QA listings across all roles in Australia. 0 of the QA Lead / Manager listings and 1 of all listings in the country show a real posted pay range; the rest carry a model estimate.
Other roles in Australia
| Role | Mid-level median | USD |
|---|---|---|
| Manual QA Tester | A$88k | $59k |
| QA Automation Engineer | A$130k | $87k |
| SDET | A$140k | $94k |
| Mobile QA Engineer | A$110k | $76k |
| Performance Test Engineer | A$160k | $110k |
| Security / Penetration Tester | A$200k | $130k |
| Game QA Tester | A$71k | $47k |
| Accessibility Tester | A$110k | $70k |
| Business / Test Analyst | A$96k | $64k |
| Data / ETL QA Engineer | A$110k | $72k |
| Localization QA Tester | A$52k | $35k |
| AI / LLM Evaluation QA | A$110k | $75k |
| Release / DevOps Engineer | A$160k | $100k |
| Technical Writer (QA / Docs) | A$97k | $65k |
World view: QA Lead / Manager salary by country · QA Lead / Manager role guide · Hire a QA Lead / Manager · Salary finder.