SDET salary in United States
SDET pay in United States centres on $130k a year ($130k) at mid-level. Expect $110k at the low end and $160k at the high end. That is the same as the US median for the same role. United States ranks 1 of 36 countries on our pay index. Juniors start near $100k, leads reach $200k.
SDET pay by level in United States
Gross annual pay in USD. Junior pay is $100k, lead pay is $200k: leads earn 100% more. The bar spans p10 to p90 with the median marked.
| Level | p10 | Median | p90 | Range | Median (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Junior | $82k | $100k | $120k | $100k | |
| Mid-level | $110k | $130k | $160k | $130k | |
| Senior | $140k | $170k | $200k | $170k | |
| Lead | $160k | $200k | $240k | $200k |
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 States
San Francisco pays most at 1.22× the national median. Pay factor 1.00 equals the country median of $130k. Showing the top 8 of 62 cities.
| City | Tier | Pay factor | Mid-level median | p10–p90 | USD | QA jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | A | 1.22× (+22%) | $160k | $130k–$190k | $160k | 30 |
| San Jose | A | 1.20× (+20%) | $160k | $130k–$190k | $160k | 54 |
| New York | A | 1.15× (+15%) | $150k | $120k–$180k | $150k | 29 |
| Seattle | A | 1.15× (+15%) | $150k | $120k–$180k | $150k | 19 |
| Boston | A | 1.08× (+8%) | $140k | $120k–$170k | $140k | 23 |
| Washington DC | A | 1.06× (+6%) | $140k | $110k–$170k | $140k | 23 |
| Los Angeles | A | 1.05× (+5%) | $140k | $110k–$170k | $140k | 20 |
| San Diego | B | 1.03× (+3%) | $130k | $110k–$160k | $130k | 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 States
A mid-level SDET on $130k gross keeps roughly 72–78% after income tax and social contributions, about $94k to $100k a year.
In United States, pay is usually quoted as annual base salary for employees, hourly rates for 1099 and W2 contracts. 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 States
148 SDET roles are open in United States, from a total of 1166 QA listings in the country.
SDET Intern
SDET - Dallas, TX
SDET I
347 listings in United States show a real posted pay range (54 for SDET). Others carry a model estimate marked “est.”.
Who hires SDETs in United States
Employer mix by share of listings (1166 listings in United States). Names are withheld; we show the type of company.
- AI companies27%
- Software companies17%
- Healthtech companies13%
- Fintech companies12%
- Cybersecurity companies9%
What this estimate rests on
The SDET baseline uses 124 US posted pay ranges. For United States, 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 United States
SDET jobs in United States by city.
SDET salary in United States: FAQ
What is the average SDET salary in United States?
The median gross salary for a mid-level SDET in United States is $130k a year ($130k). The p10 is $110k and the p90 is $160k. This is an estimate based on posted pay ranges.
How much does a senior SDET earn in United States?
A senior SDET in United States earns a median of $170k, with a range of $140k to $200k. Leads earn $200k, 100% more than juniors at $100k.
Which city in United States pays SDETs the most?
San Francisco has the highest pay factor at 1.22x the country median, which puts a mid-level SDET at about $160k. Omaha sits at 0.87x, around $110k.
How does United States compare with the US for SDET pay?
A mid-level SDET in the US earns a median of $130k. In United States the equivalent is $130k, which is the same as the US figure. United States ranks 1 of 36 countries; the North America median for this role is $120k.
What is the take-home pay for a SDET in United States?
Roughly 72–78% of gross stays after income tax and social contributions for a single mid-level earner, which is about $94k to $100k a year on a $130k 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 States?
PassRidge lists 148 live SDET roles in United States, and 1166 QA listings across all roles in United States. 54 of the SDET listings and 347 of all listings in the country show a real posted pay range; the rest carry a model estimate.
Other roles in United States
| Role | Mid-level median | USD |
|---|---|---|
| Manual QA Tester | $82k | $82k |
| QA Automation Engineer | $120k | $120k |
| QA Lead / Manager | $110k | $110k |
| Mobile QA Engineer | $110k | $110k |
| Performance Test Engineer | $150k | $150k |
| Security / Penetration Tester | $180k | $180k |
| Game QA Tester | $66k | $66k |
| Accessibility Tester | $98k | $98k |
| Business / Test Analyst | $89k | $89k |
| Data / ETL QA Engineer | $100k | $100k |
| Localization QA Tester | $48k | $48k |
| AI / LLM Evaluation QA | $100k | $100k |
| Release / DevOps Engineer | $140k | $140k |
| Technical Writer (QA / Docs) | $90k | $90k |
World view: SDET salary by country · SDET role guide · Hire a SDET · Salary finder.