SDET salary in United Kingdom
The median gross salary for a mid-level SDET in United Kingdom is £61k ($77k), with most offers between £50k and £74k. 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 £46k, leads reach £93k.
SDET pay by level in United Kingdom
Gross annual pay in GBP. Junior pay is £46k, lead pay is £93k: leads earn 100% more. The bar spans p10 to p90 with the median marked.
| Level | p10 | Median | p90 | Range | Median (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Junior | £38k | £46k | £57k | $59k | |
| Mid-level | £50k | £61k | £74k | $77k | |
| Senior | £64k | £78k | £95k | $98k | |
| Lead | £76k | £93k | £110k | $120k |
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 United Kingdom
London pays most at 1.18× the national median. Pay factor 1.00 equals the country median of £61k. Showing the top 8 of 20 cities.
| City | Tier | Pay factor | Mid-level median | p10–p90 | USD | QA jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | A | 1.18× (+18%) | £72k | £59k–£88k | $91k | 61 |
| Edinburgh | A | 1.00× (0%) | £61k | £50k–£74k | $77k | 3 |
| Birmingham | B | 0.97× (-3%) | £59k | £48k–£72k | $75k | 3 |
| Manchester | A | 0.96× (-4%) | £58k | £48k–£71k | $74k | 10 |
| Belfast | B | 0.95× (-5%) | £58k | £47k–£71k | $73k | 1 |
| Glasgow | B | 0.95× (-5%) | £58k | £47k–£71k | $73k | 2 |
| Leeds | B | 0.94× (-6%) | £57k | £47k–£70k | $72k | 5 |
| Bristol | B | 0.93× (-7%) | £57k | £46k–£69k | $72k | 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 SDET on £61k gross keeps roughly 69–75% after income tax and social contributions, about £42k to £46k 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 SDET roles in United Kingdom
16 SDET roles are open in United Kingdom, from a total of 185 QA listings in the country.
Automation Framework Architect/ SDET
Automation Engineer (SDET)
Senior Quality Engineer
29 listings in United Kingdom show a real posted pay range (1 for SDET). Others carry a model estimate marked “est.”.
Who hires SDETs 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 SDET baseline uses 124 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.
SDET salary and jobs by city in United Kingdom
SDET jobs in United Kingdom by city.
SDET salary in United Kingdom: FAQ
What is the average SDET salary in United Kingdom?
The median gross salary for a mid-level SDET in United Kingdom is £61k a year ($77k). The p10 is £50k and the p90 is £74k. This is an estimate based on posted pay ranges.
How much does a senior SDET earn in United Kingdom?
A senior SDET in United Kingdom earns a median of £78k ($98k), with a range of £64k to £95k. Leads earn £93k, 100% more than juniors at £46k.
Which city in United Kingdom pays SDETs the most?
London has the highest pay factor at 1.18x the country median, which puts a mid-level SDET at about £72k ($91k). Swansea sits at 0.88x, around £54k.
How does United Kingdom compare with the US for SDET pay?
A mid-level SDET in the US earns a median of $130k. In United Kingdom the equivalent is $77k, which is 41% below the US figure. United Kingdom ranks 11 of 36 countries; the UK & Ireland median for this role is $84k.
What is the take-home pay for a SDET in United Kingdom?
Roughly 69–75% of gross stays after income tax and social contributions for a single mid-level earner, which is about £42k to £46k a year on a £61k 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 United Kingdom?
PassRidge lists 16 live SDET roles in United Kingdom, and 185 QA listings across all roles in United Kingdom. 1 of the SDET 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Manual QA Tester | £38k | $48k |
| QA Automation Engineer | £56k | $71k |
| 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: SDET salary by country · SDET role guide · Hire a SDET · Salary finder.