Software Tester / QA jobs in the UK

Live software tester / qa roles plus reconciled 2026 salary data by region.

1911 live software tester / qa roles

Cyber Security Test Lead

West of England

£67,186–£120,934

At Peregrine, we’re always seeking Specialist Talent that have the ideal mix of skills, experience, and attitude, to place with our vast array of…

IT & Technology
4 weeks ago Apply on WhatJobs

Senior Automation Tester

London

£39,898–£52,351

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in software testing with an emphasis on automation, ensuring the delivery of high-quality software…

Hybrid IT & Technology
4 weeks ago Apply on WhatJobs

Senior SDET

Manchester

£60,000–£80,000

We’re partnering with a leading automotive organisation to hire multiple Senior Software Engineers in Test for a major digital programme across a…

Hybrid IT & Technology
4 weeks ago Apply on WhatJobs

Software Tester / QA salary by region (2026)

RegionSalary range (median)
London (indicative)
no live adverts yet: baseline range
£40,000 – £70,000 (midpoint £55,000)
South East (indicative)
no live adverts yet: baseline range
£35,000 – £62,000 (midpoint £48,500)
Midlands (indicative)
no live adverts yet: baseline range
£32,000 – £55,000 (midpoint £43,500)
North West (indicative)
no live adverts yet: baseline range
£32,000 – £55,000 (midpoint £43,500)
Scotland (indicative)
no live adverts yet: baseline range
£32,000 – £55,000 (midpoint £43,500)
Yorkshire (indicative)
no live adverts yet: baseline range
£30,000 – £52,000 (midpoint £41,000)

Methodology: medians reconcile live advertised UK salaries for this role and region; 25th–75th percentiles are shown only where at least 5 live salaried listings back them. They are measured or omitted, never interpolated. Rows marked indicative are anchored to our curated 2026 baseline ranges until enough live data accrues. Listings advertising an implausible annual figure (a mislabelled hourly or daily rate) are excluded rather than converted, because converting one means guessing the hours behind it.

Market view. Manual and games testing anchor the bottom of the band, automation engineers (Selenium, Playwright, Cypress) the middle, and SDET and test-lead roles the top. ISTQB Foundation is the baseline qualification most employers name.
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FAQs

What does a software tester earn?

Indicatively £28,000–£40,000 manual, £40,000–£60,000 automation and £55,000–£70,000 for leads and SDETs.

Is games testing paid the same?

No. Games QA is typically £24,000–£32,000 and often temporary; it is an entry route rather than the market rate.

What do employers check?

Right to work, references and a testing exercise; ISTQB is often required.

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