SDET salary in Canada
SDET pay in Canada centres on C$150k a year ($110k) at mid-level. Expect C$120k at the low end and C$180k at the high end. That is 16% below the US median for the same role. Canada ranks 3 of 36 countries on our pay index. Juniors start near C$120k, leads reach C$230k.
SDET pay by level in Canada
Gross annual pay in CAD. Junior pay is C$120k, lead pay is C$230k: leads earn 100% more. The bar spans p10 to p90 with the median marked.
| Level | p10 | Median | p90 | Range | Median (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Junior | C$95k | C$120k | C$140k | $84k | |
| Mid-level | C$120k | C$150k | C$180k | $110k | |
| Senior | C$160k | C$190k | C$240k | $140k | |
| Lead | C$190k | C$230k | C$280k | $170k |
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 Canada
Toronto pays most at 1.06× the national median. Pay factor 1.00 equals the country median of C$150k. Showing the top 8 of 11 cities.
| City | Tier | Pay factor | Mid-level median | p10–p90 | USD | QA jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto | A | 1.06× (+6%) | C$160k | C$130k–C$200k | $120k | 150 |
| Vancouver | A | 1.04× (+4%) | C$160k | C$130k–C$190k | $110k | 15 |
| Ottawa | B | 0.97× (-3%) | C$150k | C$120k–C$180k | $110k | 9 |
| Calgary | B | 0.96× (-4%) | C$150k | C$120k–C$180k | $110k | 10 |
| Montreal | B | 0.95× (-5%) | C$140k | C$120k–C$180k | $100k | 19 |
| Waterloo | B | 0.94× (-6%) | C$140k | C$120k–C$170k | $100k | 3 |
| Edmonton | C | 0.90× (-10%) | C$140k | C$110k–C$170k | $99k | 1 |
| Winnipeg | B | 0.90× (-10%) | C$140k | C$110k–C$170k | $99k | 6 |
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 Canada
A mid-level SDET on C$150k gross keeps roughly 70–76% after income tax and social contributions, about C$100k to C$110k a year.
In Canada, pay is usually quoted as annual base salary, hourly 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 SDET roles in Canada
27 SDET roles are open in Canada, from a total of 320 QA listings in the country.
Software Development Engineer in Test I (SDET) - ArcGIS Enterprise
Software Image Quality Engineer, Creativity Apps
Senior Automation Developer (SDET)
132 listings in Canada show a real posted pay range (15 for SDET). Others carry a model estimate marked “est.”.
Who hires SDETs in Canada
Employer mix by share of listings (320 listings in Canada). Names are withheld; we show the type of company.
- Games studios26%
- AI companies24%
- Healthtech companies16%
- Software companies10%
- E-commerce companies7%
Similar-paying countries
Mid-level SDET median in countries closest to Canada on our pay index.
| Country | Local | USD |
|---|---|---|
| Switzerland | CHF 110k | $120k |
| Australia | A$140k | $94k |
| Israel | ₪350k | $93k |
| Ireland | €84k | $91k |
| United States | $130k | $130k |
| Singapore | S$120k | $89k |
What this estimate rests on
The SDET baseline uses 124 US posted pay ranges. For Canada, the country index is calibrated on 485 non-US observations in North America, so the regional sample is usable but still modest. Evidence score 8 of 8.
SDET salary and jobs by city in Canada
SDET jobs in Canada by city.
SDET salary in Canada: FAQ
What is the average SDET salary in Canada?
The median gross salary for a mid-level SDET in Canada is C$150k a year ($110k). The p10 is C$120k and the p90 is C$180k. This is an estimate based on posted pay ranges.
How much does a senior SDET earn in Canada?
A senior SDET in Canada earns a median of C$190k ($140k), with a range of C$160k to C$240k. Leads earn C$230k, 100% more than juniors at C$120k.
Which city in Canada pays SDETs the most?
Toronto has the highest pay factor at 1.06x the country median, which puts a mid-level SDET at about C$160k ($120k). Québec City sits at 0.88x, around C$130k.
How does Canada compare with the US for SDET pay?
A mid-level SDET in the US earns a median of $130k. In Canada the equivalent is $110k, which is 16% below the US figure. Canada ranks 3 of 36 countries; the North America median for this role is $120k.
What is the take-home pay for a SDET in Canada?
Roughly 70–76% of gross stays after income tax and social contributions for a single mid-level earner, which is about C$100k to C$110k a year on a C$150k 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 Canada?
PassRidge lists 27 live SDET roles in Canada, and 320 QA listings across all roles in Canada. 15 of the SDET listings and 132 of all listings in the country show a real posted pay range; the rest carry a model estimate.
Other roles in Canada
| Role | Mid-level median | USD |
|---|---|---|
| Manual QA Tester | C$95k | $69k |
| QA Automation Engineer | C$140k | $100k |
| QA Lead / Manager | C$130k | $93k |
| Mobile QA Engineer | C$120k | $89k |
| Performance Test Engineer | C$170k | $120k |
| Security / Penetration Tester | C$210k | $150k |
| Game QA Tester | C$76k | $56k |
| Accessibility Tester | C$110k | $83k |
| Business / Test Analyst | C$100k | $75k |
| Data / ETL QA Engineer | C$120k | $84k |
| Localization QA Tester | C$55k | $40k |
| AI / LLM Evaluation QA | C$120k | $88k |
| Release / DevOps Engineer | C$170k | $120k |
| Technical Writer (QA / Docs) | C$100k | $76k |
World view: SDET salary by country · SDET role guide · Hire a SDET · Salary finder.