SDET salary in India
The median gross salary for a mid-level SDET in India is ₹2.1M ($25k), with most offers between ₹1.7M and ₹2.5M. That is 81% below the US median for the same role. India ranks 35 of 36 countries on our pay index. Juniors start near ₹1.6M, leads reach ₹3.1M.
SDET pay by level in India
Gross annual pay in INR. Junior pay is ₹1.6M, lead pay is ₹3.1M: leads earn 100% more. The bar spans p10 to p90 with the median marked.
| Level | p10 | Median | p90 | Range | Median (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Junior | ₹1.3M | ₹1.6M | ₹1.9M | $19k | |
| Mid-level | ₹1.7M | ₹2.1M | ₹2.5M | $25k | |
| Senior | ₹2.1M | ₹2.6M | ₹3.2M | $32k | |
| Lead | ₹2.6M | ₹3.1M | ₹3.8M | $38k |
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 India
Bengaluru pays most at 1.06× the national median. Pay factor 1.00 equals the country median of ₹2.1M. Showing the top 8 of 45 cities.
| City | Tier | Pay factor | Mid-level median | p10–p90 | USD | QA jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bengaluru | A | 1.06× (+6%) | ₹2.2M | ₹1.8M–₹2.7M | $26k | 159 |
| Delhi NCR | B | 1.04× (+4%) | ₹2.1M | ₹1.8M–₹2.6M | $26k | 53 |
| Mumbai | B | 1.04× (+4%) | ₹2.1M | ₹1.8M–₹2.6M | $26k | 15 |
| Hyderabad | B | 1.02× (+2%) | ₹2.1M | ₹1.7M–₹2.6M | $25k | 83 |
| Pune | B | 1.00× (0%) | ₹2.1M | ₹1.7M–₹2.5M | $25k | 68 |
| Ahmedabad | B | 0.96× (-4%) | ₹2M | ₹1.6M–₹2.4M | $24k | 10 |
| Jaipur | B | 0.96× (-4%) | ₹2M | ₹1.6M–₹2.4M | $24k | 3 |
| Kolkata | C | 0.96× (-4%) | ₹2M | ₹1.6M–₹2.4M | $24k | 0 |
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 India
A mid-level SDET on ₹2.1M gross keeps roughly 72–80% after income tax and social contributions, about ₹1.5M to ₹1.7M a year.
In India, pay is usually quoted as annual CTC (cost to company), which includes benefits and variable pay. 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 India
94 SDET roles are open in India, from a total of 547 QA listings in the country.
SDET - Automation Testing
SDET 1
Test Analyst (SDET) - API Automation
9 listings in India show a real posted pay range (1 for SDET). Others carry a model estimate marked “est.”.
Who hires SDETs in India
Employer mix by share of listings (547 listings in India). Names are withheld; we show the type of company.
- AI companies41%
- Software companies18%
- Fintech companies11%
- E-commerce companies9%
- Healthtech companies7%
What this estimate rests on
The SDET baseline uses 124 US posted pay ranges. For India, the country index is calibrated on 122 non-US observations in Asia-Pacific, so the regional sample is usable but still modest. Evidence score 8 of 8.
SDET salary and jobs by city in India
SDET jobs in India by city.
SDET salary in India: FAQ
What is the average SDET salary in India?
The median gross salary for a mid-level SDET in India is ₹2.1M a year ($25k). The p10 is ₹1.7M and the p90 is ₹2.5M. This is an estimate based on posted pay ranges.
How much does a senior SDET earn in India?
A senior SDET in India earns a median of ₹2.6M ($32k), with a range of ₹2.1M to ₹3.2M. Leads earn ₹3.1M, 100% more than juniors at ₹1.6M.
Which city in India pays SDETs the most?
Bengaluru has the highest pay factor at 1.06x the country median, which puts a mid-level SDET at about ₹2.2M ($26k). Kochi sits at 0.88x, around ₹1.8M.
How does India compare with the US for SDET pay?
A mid-level SDET in the US earns a median of $130k. In India the equivalent is $25k, which is 81% below the US figure. India ranks 35 of 36 countries; the Asia-Pacific median for this role is $57k.
What is the take-home pay for a SDET in India?
Roughly 72–80% of gross stays after income tax and social contributions for a single mid-level earner, which is about ₹1.5M to ₹1.7M a year on a ₹2.1M 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 India?
PassRidge lists 94 live SDET roles in India, and 547 QA listings across all roles in India. 1 of the SDET listings and 9 of all listings in the country show a real posted pay range; the rest carry a model estimate.
Other roles in India
| Role | Mid-level median | USD |
|---|---|---|
| Manual QA Tester | ₹1.3M | $15k |
| QA Automation Engineer | ₹1.9M | $23k |
| QA Lead / Manager | ₹1.7M | $21k |
| Mobile QA Engineer | ₹1.7M | $20k |
| Performance Test Engineer | ₹2.3M | $28k |
| Security / Penetration Tester | ₹2.8M | $34k |
| Game QA Tester | ₹1M | $12k |
| Accessibility Tester | ₹1.5M | $19k |
| Business / Test Analyst | ₹1.4M | $17k |
| Data / ETL QA Engineer | ₹1.6M | $19k |
| Localization QA Tester | ₹750k | $9,100 |
| AI / LLM Evaluation QA | ₹1.6M | $20k |
| Release / DevOps Engineer | ₹2.3M | $27k |
| Technical Writer (QA / Docs) | ₹1.4M | $17k |
World view: SDET salary by country · SDET role guide · Hire a SDET · Salary finder.