SDET salary in London, United Kingdom
A mid-level SDET in London earns a median of £72k a year gross ($91k), from £59k at p10 to £88k at p90. London pays 1.18× the United Kingdom median and 30% below the US median of $130k. About 9 million people live in London.
SDET pay by level in London
Gross annual pay in GBP. Junior £55k, lead £110k. The bar spans p10 to p90 with the median marked.
| Level | p10 | Median | p90 | Range | Median (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Junior | £45k | £55k | £67k | $69k | |
| Mid-level | £59k | £72k | £88k | $91k | |
| Senior | £75k | £92k | £110k | $120k | |
| Lead | £90k | £110k | £130k | $140k |
Estimates from posted pay ranges, base pay only: the United Kingdom median (£61k) times a 1.18 city factor. Methodology.
From gross to take-home in London
Employers in United Kingdom usually quote annual salary for permanent roles, day rates for contract roles.
A generic estimate for a single mid-level earner, not tax advice.
SDET pay in other United Kingdom cities
| City | Pay factor | p10 | Median | p90 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edinburgh | 1.00× | £50k | £61k | £74k |
| Birmingham | 0.97× | £48k | £59k | £72k |
| Manchester | 0.96× | £48k | £58k | £71k |
| Belfast | 0.95× | £47k | £58k | £71k |
| Glasgow | 0.95× | £47k | £58k | £71k |
| Leeds | 0.94× | £47k | £57k | £70k |
| Bristol | 0.93× | £46k | £57k | £69k |
| Cambridge | 0.93× | £46k | £57k | £69k |
Other QA salaries in London
SDET salary in London: FAQ
What is the average SDET salary in London?
The median gross salary for a mid-level SDET in London is £72k a year ($91k). The p10 is £59k and the p90 is £88k. This is an estimate from posted pay ranges, scaled to London with a city factor of 1.18.
How much does a senior SDET make in London?
A senior SDET in London earns a median of £92k ($120k), with a range of £75k to £110k. Leads reach £110k and juniors start near £55k.
What is an entry-level SDET salary in London?
A junior SDET in London earns about £55k a year ($69k), between £45k and £67k. Pay rises to £72k at mid-level.
Is London a good-paying city for SDETs in United Kingdom?
London ranks 1st of 20 tracked United Kingdom cities for this role, at 1.18x the national median of £61k. It is the best-paid city we track in the country.
What is the take-home pay for a SDET in London?
Roughly 69-75% of gross stays after income tax and social contributions for a single mid-level earner: about £50k to £54k a year, or £4,300 a month. This is not tax advice.
What is the hourly rate for a SDET in London?
A £72k gross salary equals about £35 an hour on a 40-hour week (£6,000 a month gross). Contractors typically quote 20-35% above this to cover leave and benefits.
All figures are gross estimates, not offers or advice.