QA Engineer Salary UK 2025 — Permanent, Contract & Day Rates
Last updated: June 2025 • 7 min read • Written by: ClickMasters HR Team • Reviewed by: Market data reviewed annually
Direct Answer
QA Engineer salaries in the UK range from £28,000 (junior) to £520–£700/day (senior/lead). WCAG 2.1 accessibility testing expertise commands a significant premium — legally required under PSBAR for public sector, and Equality Act implications for private sector. Security testing (OWASP, DAST) adds further premium. UK supply of experienced QA Engineers is well below demand.
Market Outlook
QA Engineers are consistently undervalued in the UK software market — but the shortage of skilled testers with modern tooling (Playwright, k6, WCAG manual testing) is acute. WCAG 2.1 accessibility testing specialists command a 20–35% premium.
Salary benchmarks by Seniority
IR35 Tax Position
Day rates assume outside IR35. Inside IR35 contractor day rates in the UK are typically 15–25% higher to compensate for the lack of tax efficiency and additional payroll costs. ClickMasters engineers are directly employed by us, representing **zero IR35 risk** for clients.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about qa engineer salary standards.
The average QA Engineer salary in the UK in 2025: approximately £60,000–£85,000 mid-level. Senior: £60,000–£85,000. London adds 20–30%.
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