SDET salary in Australia
A mid-level SDET in Australia earns a median of A$140k ($94k) a year gross. The p10 to p90 range is A$120k to A$170k. 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$110k, leads reach A$220k.
SDET pay by level in Australia
Gross annual pay in AUD. Junior pay is A$110k, lead pay is A$220k: leads earn 100% more. The bar spans p10 to p90 with the median marked.
| Level | p10 | Median | p90 | Range | Median (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Junior | A$88k | A$110k | A$130k | $72k | |
| Mid-level | A$120k | A$140k | A$170k | $94k | |
| Senior | A$150k | A$180k | A$220k | $120k | |
| Lead | A$180k | A$220k | A$260k | $140k |
Estimates from posted pay ranges, base pay only. p10 and p90 are 0.82× and 1.22× the median. Methodology.
SDET pay by city in Australia
Sydney pays most at 1.06× the national median. Pay factor 1.00 equals the country median of A$140k.
| City | Tier | Pay factor | Mid-level median | p10–p90 | USD | QA jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney | A | 1.06× (+6%) | A$150k | A$120k–A$180k | $100k | 22 |
| Melbourne | B | 1.00× (0%) | A$140k | A$120k–A$170k | $94k | 7 |
| Brisbane | B | 0.93× (-7%) | A$130k | A$110k–A$160k | $88k | 10 |
| Perth | C | 0.93× (-7%) | A$130k | A$110k–A$160k | $88k | 2 |
| Adelaide | C | 0.90× (-10%) | A$130k | A$100k–A$160k | $85k | 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 SDET on A$140k gross keeps roughly 71–77% after income tax and social contributions, about A$99k to A$110k 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.
QA roles open in Australia
1 SDET role open today. Showing the closest matches from 81 QA listings in Australia.
Quality Engineer
Manager, Quality Assurance - VALORANT
Test Automation Architect
1 listing in Australia show a real posted pay range (0 for SDET). Others carry a model estimate marked “est.”.
Who hires SDETs 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 SDET baseline uses 124 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.
SDET salary and jobs by city in Australia
SDET jobs in Australia by city.
SDET salary in Australia: FAQ
What is the average SDET salary in Australia?
The median gross salary for a mid-level SDET in Australia is A$140k a year ($94k). The p10 is A$120k and the p90 is A$170k. This is an estimate based on posted pay ranges.
How much does a senior SDET earn in Australia?
A senior SDET in Australia earns a median of A$180k ($120k), with a range of A$150k to A$220k. Leads earn A$220k, 100% more than juniors at A$110k.
Which city in Australia pays SDETs the most?
Sydney has the highest pay factor at 1.06x the country median, which puts a mid-level SDET at about A$150k ($100k). Adelaide sits at 0.90x, around A$130k.
How does Australia compare with the US for SDET pay?
A mid-level SDET in the US earns a median of $130k. In Australia the equivalent is $94k, which is 28% below the US figure. Australia ranks 4 of 36 countries; the Asia-Pacific median for this role is $57k.
What is the take-home pay for a SDET in Australia?
Roughly 71–77% of gross stays after income tax and social contributions for a single mid-level earner, which is about A$99k to A$110k a year on a A$140k gross salary. This is a generic estimate, not tax advice: benefits, family status and regional taxes change the result.
How many SDET jobs are open in Australia?
PassRidge lists 1 live SDET role in Australia, and 81 QA listings across all roles in Australia. 0 of the SDET 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 |
| QA Lead / Manager | A$120k | $79k |
| 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: SDET salary by country · SDET role guide · Hire a SDET · Salary finder.