SDET salary in San Francisco, United States
A mid-level SDET in San Francisco earns a median of $160k a year gross ($160k), from $130k at p10 to $190k at p90. San Francisco pays 1.22× the United States median and 23% above the US median of $130k. About 828,000 people live in San Francisco.
SDET pay by level in San Francisco
Gross annual pay in USD. Junior $120k, lead $240k. The bar spans p10 to p90 with the median marked.
| Level | p10 | Median | p90 | Range | Median (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Junior | $100k | $120k | $150k | $120k | |
| Mid-level | $130k | $160k | $190k | $160k | |
| Senior | $170k | $200k | $250k | $200k | |
| Lead | $200k | $240k | $300k | $240k |
Estimates from posted pay ranges, base pay only: the United States median ($130k) times a 1.22 city factor. Methodology.
From gross to take-home in San Francisco
Employers in United States usually quote annual base salary for employees, hourly rates for 1099 and W2 contracts.
A generic estimate for a single mid-level earner, not tax advice.
SDET pay in other United States cities
| City | Pay factor | p10 | Median | p90 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose | 1.20× | $130k | $160k | $190k |
| New York | 1.15× | $120k | $150k | $180k |
| Seattle | 1.15× | $120k | $150k | $180k |
| Boston | 1.08× | $120k | $140k | $170k |
| Washington DC | 1.06× | $110k | $140k | $170k |
| Los Angeles | 1.05× | $110k | $140k | $170k |
| San Diego | 1.03× | $110k | $130k | $160k |
| Austin | 1.02× | $110k | $130k | $160k |
Other QA salaries in San Francisco
4 SDET jobs in San Francisco · QA hiring in San Francisco · Hire a SDET
SDET salary in San Francisco: FAQ
What is the average SDET salary in San Francisco?
The median gross salary for a mid-level SDET in San Francisco is $160k a year ($160k). The p10 is $130k and the p90 is $190k. This is an estimate from posted pay ranges, scaled to San Francisco with a city factor of 1.22.
How much does a senior SDET make in San Francisco?
A senior SDET in San Francisco earns a median of $200k, with a range of $170k to $250k. Leads reach $240k and juniors start near $120k.
What is an entry-level SDET salary in San Francisco?
A junior SDET in San Francisco earns about $120k a year ($120k), between $100k and $150k. Pay rises to $160k at mid-level.
Is San Francisco a good-paying city for SDETs in United States?
San Francisco ranks 1st of 62 tracked United States cities for this role, at 1.22x the national median of $130k. It is the best-paid city we track in the country.
What is the take-home pay for a SDET in San Francisco?
Roughly 72-78% of gross stays after income tax and social contributions for a single mid-level earner: about $120k to $120k a year, or $9,800 a month. This is not tax advice.
What is the hourly rate for a SDET in San Francisco?
A $160k gross salary equals about $77 an hour on a 40-hour week ($13k a month gross). Contractors typically quote 20-35% above this to cover leave and benefits.
All figures are gross estimates, not offers or advice.