QA Rates Compare

QA team cost calculator

Monthly cost = count x median hourly rate (the middle value of the weighted observations) x hours per month (default 160), summed over roles; annual = monthly x 12. The calculator reads 25 published rate records and excludes any combination without one.

Location and model
  • Hourly (time and materials): billed per worked hour, no minimum commitment.
  • Dedicated team: monthly fee per engineer assigned full time.
  • Staff augmentation: engineer placed into the client's team under the client's management, monthly.
  • Project-based (fixed price): fixed fee for a defined scope; converted to effective hourly from published estimates only.
  • Managed testing service: vendor owns outcomes and process; monthly or per-release fee.
Team (role, seniority, count)

The calculator needs JavaScript. Median hourly figures for every published combination are in the downloadable data.

How the result is computed

  1. Each team row selects a role, a seniority level and a count; the country and engagement model apply to every row.
  2. Each row contributes count x median (the middle value of the weighted observations) x hours; the low and high bands use p25 and p75 (the bounds of the middle half of the observations).
  3. A row without a published record is excluded and named in a note; no neighbouring figure is used.
  4. The inputs are written to the URL query, so a copied link reproduces the result.

Sources behind the calculator data

  1. freelance-platform FRATCH. Penetration Testers in Germany | Find vetted experts fast. Published 2026-08-07, verified . ev-rate-g2dp-001
  2. vendor-rate-card Vendor rate card (delivery country: Germany); vendor name and link are published only in the evidence file. Published 2026-01-01, verified . ev-rate-g4dp-001
  3. fx European Central Bank. ECB euro foreign exchange reference rates (SDMX EXR). Published 2026-10-16, verified . ev-fx-2026-q4-eur
  4. freelance-platform FRATCH. QA Managers in Germany | Find vetted experts fast. Published 2026-08-09, verified . ev-rate-g2dp-002
  5. job-board TalentUp. Quality Assurance Manager Contractor Hourly Rate in Germany 2026 | TalentUp |. Published 2026-07-21, verified . ev-rate-g2dp-003
  6. freelance-platform FRATCH. Software Testers in Germany | Find vetted experts fast. Published 2026-08-06, verified . ev-rate-germany-001
  7. job-board TalentUp. Software Tester Contractor Hourly Rate in Germany 2026 | TalentUp |. Published 2026-07-10, verified . ev-rate-gfeu-001
  8. freelance-platform FRATCH. Test Automation Engineers in Germany | Find vetted experts fast. Published 2026-08-06, verified . ev-rate-germany-002
  9. job-board TalentUp. Test Automation Engineer Contractor Hourly Rate in Germany 2026 | TalentUp |. Published 2026-10-08, verified . ev-rate-gfeu-002
  10. job-board TalentUp. Software Tester Contractor Hourly Rate in India 2026 | TalentUp |. Published 2026-09-23, verified . ev-rate-g2ea-009
  11. vendor-rate-card Vendor rate card (delivery country: India); vendor name and link are published only in the evidence file. Published 2026-09-14, verified . ev-rate-g2ea-017
  12. fx European Central Bank. ECB euro foreign exchange reference rates (SDMX EXR). Published 2026-10-16, verified . ev-fx-2026-q4-inr
  13. job-board TalentUp. Software Tester Contractor Hourly Rate in Philippines 2026 | TalentUp |. Published 2026-08-13, verified . ev-rate-g2ea-011
  14. vendor-rate-card Vendor rate card (delivery country: Philippines); vendor name and link are published only in the evidence file. Published 2026-09-14, verified . ev-rate-g2ea-016
  15. fx European Central Bank. ECB euro foreign exchange reference rates (SDMX EXR). Published 2026-10-16, verified . ev-fx-2026-q4-php
  16. job-board SOLID.Jobs. Jak wygląda rynek pracy testerów w 2026 roku? Rynek, który przestał obiecywać łatwe wejście - SOLID.Jobs Blog. Published 2026-09-22, verified . ev-rate-poland-001
  17. job-board TalentUp. Software Tester Contractor Hourly Rate in Poland 2026 | TalentUp |. Published 2026-10-08, verified . ev-rate-gfeu-003
  18. fx European Central Bank. ECB euro foreign exchange reference rates (SDMX EXR). Published 2026-10-16, verified . ev-fx-2026-q4-pln
  19. job-board SOLID.Jobs. Jak wygląda rynek pracy testerów w 2026 roku? Rynek, który przestał obiecywać łatwe wejście - SOLID.Jobs Blog. Published 2026-09-22, verified . ev-rate-poland-002
  20. job-board TalentUp. Test Automation Engineer Contractor Hourly Rate in Poland 2026 | TalentUp |. Published 2026-10-08, verified . ev-rate-gfeu-004
  21. freelance-platform Lemon.io. Automation QA Engineer Salary & Hourly Rate 2026. Published 2026-07-01, verified . ev-rate-mkt-003
  22. job-board SOLID.Jobs. Jak wygląda rynek pracy testerów w 2026 roku? Rynek, który przestał obiecywać łatwe wejście - SOLID.Jobs Blog. Published 2026-09-22, verified . ev-rate-poland-004
  23. job-board IT Jobs Watch. SDET Contract Job Trends, Contractor Rates & Related Skills | IT Jobs Watch. Published 2026-10-18, verified . ev-rate-united-kingdom-005
  24. survey Henderson Scott. Technology Salary Guide 2026. Published 2025-11-06, verified . ev-rate-gfua-001
  25. fx European Central Bank. ECB euro foreign exchange reference rates (SDMX EXR). Published 2026-10-16, verified . ev-fx-2026-q4-gbp
  26. job-board IT Jobs Watch. Penetration Tester Contract Job Trends, Contractor Rates & Skill Sets | IT Jobs Watch. Published 2026-10-18, verified . ev-rate-united-kingdom-007
  27. survey Henderson Scott. Technology Salary Guide 2026. Published 2025-11-06, verified . ev-rate-gfua-002
  28. survey Yolk Recruitment. Technology & Digital (Contract) Salary Survey 2025. Published 2025-06-17, verified . ev-rate-gfua-003
  29. job-board IT Jobs Watch. Performance Tester Contract Job Trends, Contractor Rates & Skill Sets | IT Jobs Watch. Published 2026-10-18, verified . ev-rate-united-kingdom-006
  30. vendor-rate-card Vendor rate card (delivery country: United Kingdom); vendor name and link are published only in the evidence file. Published 2026-01-21, verified . ev-rate-gfua-004
  31. vendor-rate-card Vendor rate card (delivery country: United Kingdom); vendor name and link are published only in the evidence file. Published 2026-01-26, verified . ev-rate-united-kingdom-013
  32. job-board IT Jobs Watch. Senior Performance Engineer Contract Job Trends, Contractor Rates & Skill Sets | IT Jobs Watch. Published 2026-10-20, verified . ev-rate-gfua-005
  33. vendor-rate-card Vendor rate card (delivery country: United Kingdom); vendor name and link are published only in the evidence file. Published 2026-01-26, verified . ev-rate-united-kingdom-017
  34. job-board IT Jobs Watch. Junior Test Analyst Contract Job Trends, Contractor Rates & Skill Sets | IT Jobs Watch. Published 2025-10-20, verified . ev-rate-gfua-006
  35. vendor-rate-card Vendor rate card (delivery country: United Kingdom); vendor name and link are published only in the evidence file. Published 2026-01-01, verified . ev-rate-united-kingdom-022
  36. vendor-rate-card Vendor rate card (delivery country: United Kingdom); vendor name and link are published only in the evidence file. Published 2026-01-01, verified . ev-rate-united-kingdom-027
  37. vendor-rate-card Vendor rate card (delivery country: United Kingdom); vendor name and link are published only in the evidence file. Published 2026-01-19, verified . ev-rate-united-kingdom-033
  38. job-board IT Jobs Watch. Head of Testing Contract Job Trends, Contractor Rates & Skill Sets | IT Jobs Watch. Published 2025-10-20, verified . ev-rate-gfua-007
  39. vendor-rate-card Vendor rate card (delivery country: United Kingdom); vendor name and link are published only in the evidence file. Published 2026-01-01, verified . ev-rate-united-kingdom-028
  40. vendor-rate-card Vendor rate card (delivery country: United Kingdom); vendor name and link are published only in the evidence file. Published 2026-01-19, verified . ev-rate-united-kingdom-034
  41. vendor-rate-card Vendor rate card (delivery country: United Kingdom); vendor name and link are published only in the evidence file. Published 2026-01-13, verified . ev-rate-united-kingdom-035
  42. job-board IT Jobs Watch. CHECK Team Leader Contract Job Trends, Contractor Rates & Co-Occurring Skills | IT Jobs Watch. Published 2026-10-20, verified . ev-rate-gfua-008
  43. job-board IT Jobs Watch. Test Analyst Contract Job Trends, Contractor Rates & Skill Sets | IT Jobs Watch. Published 2026-10-18, verified . ev-rate-united-kingdom-001
  44. vendor-rate-card Vendor rate card (delivery country: United Kingdom); vendor name and link are published only in the evidence file. Published 2026-01-26, verified . ev-rate-united-kingdom-016
  45. vendor-rate-card Vendor rate card (delivery country: United Kingdom); vendor name and link are published only in the evidence file. Published 2026-01-01, verified . ev-rate-united-kingdom-018
  46. vendor-rate-card Vendor rate card (delivery country: United Kingdom); vendor name and link are published only in the evidence file. Published 2026-01-01, verified . ev-rate-united-kingdom-023
  47. vendor-rate-card Vendor rate card (delivery country: United Kingdom); vendor name and link are published only in the evidence file. Published 2026-01-19, verified . ev-rate-united-kingdom-029
  48. job-board IT Jobs Watch. Senior Test Analyst Contract Job Trends, Contractor Rates & Skill Sets | IT Jobs Watch. Published 2026-10-18, verified . ev-rate-united-kingdom-002
  49. vendor-rate-card Vendor rate card (delivery country: United Kingdom); vendor name and link are published only in the evidence file. Published 2026-01-26, verified . ev-rate-united-kingdom-015
  50. vendor-rate-card Vendor rate card (delivery country: United Kingdom); vendor name and link are published only in the evidence file. Published 2026-01-01, verified . ev-rate-united-kingdom-019
  51. vendor-rate-card Vendor rate card (delivery country: United Kingdom); vendor name and link are published only in the evidence file. Published 2026-01-01, verified . ev-rate-united-kingdom-024
  52. vendor-rate-card Vendor rate card (delivery country: United Kingdom); vendor name and link are published only in the evidence file. Published 2026-01-19, verified . ev-rate-united-kingdom-030
  53. job-board IT Jobs Watch. Test Automation Engineer Contract Job Trends, Contractor Rates & Skill Sets | IT Jobs Watch. Published 2026-10-18, verified . ev-rate-united-kingdom-003
  54. vendor-rate-card Vendor rate card (delivery country: United Kingdom); vendor name and link are published only in the evidence file. Published 2026-01-26, verified . ev-rate-united-kingdom-014
  55. job-board IT Jobs Watch. Senior Test Automation Engineer Contract Job Trends, Contractor Rates & Skill Sets | IT Jobs Watch. Published 2026-10-18, verified . ev-rate-united-kingdom-004
  56. vendor-rate-card Vendor rate card (delivery country: United Kingdom); vendor name and link are published only in the evidence file. Published 2026-01-26, verified . ev-rate-united-kingdom-012
  57. job-board IT Jobs Watch. Test Leader Contract Job Trends, Contractor Rates & Skill Sets | IT Jobs Watch. Published 2026-10-18, verified . ev-rate-united-kingdom-008
  58. vendor-rate-card Vendor rate card (delivery country: United Kingdom); vendor name and link are published only in the evidence file. Published 2026-01-26, verified . ev-rate-united-kingdom-011
  59. vendor-rate-card Vendor rate card (delivery country: United Kingdom); vendor name and link are published only in the evidence file. Published 2026-01-01, verified . ev-rate-united-kingdom-020
  60. vendor-rate-card Vendor rate card (delivery country: United Kingdom); vendor name and link are published only in the evidence file. Published 2026-01-01, verified . ev-rate-united-kingdom-025
  61. vendor-rate-card Vendor rate card (delivery country: United Kingdom); vendor name and link are published only in the evidence file. Published 2026-01-19, verified . ev-rate-united-kingdom-031
  62. job-board IT Jobs Watch. Test Manager Contract Job Trends, Contractor Rates & Skill Sets | IT Jobs Watch. Published 2026-10-18, verified . ev-rate-united-kingdom-009
  63. vendor-rate-card Vendor rate card (delivery country: United Kingdom); vendor name and link are published only in the evidence file. Published 2026-01-26, verified . ev-rate-united-kingdom-010
  64. vendor-rate-card Vendor rate card (delivery country: United Kingdom); vendor name and link are published only in the evidence file. Published 2026-01-01, verified . ev-rate-united-kingdom-021
  65. vendor-rate-card Vendor rate card (delivery country: United Kingdom); vendor name and link are published only in the evidence file. Published 2026-01-01, verified . ev-rate-united-kingdom-026
  66. vendor-rate-card Vendor rate card (delivery country: United Kingdom); vendor name and link are published only in the evidence file. Published 2026-01-19, verified . ev-rate-united-kingdom-032
  67. job-board TalentUp. Software Tester Contractor Hourly Rate in United States 2026 | TalentUp |. Published 2025-07-03, verified . ev-rate-g2we-001
  68. vendor-rate-card Vendor rate card (delivery country: United States); vendor name and link are published only in the evidence file. Published 2026-08-22, verified . ev-rate-g2we-011
  69. job-board TalentUp. Test Automation Engineer Contractor Hourly Rate in United States 2026 | TalentUp |. Published 2026-10-08, verified . ev-rate-g2we-002
  70. vendor-rate-card Vendor rate card (delivery country: United States); vendor name and link are published only in the evidence file. Published 2026-07-11, verified . ev-rate-g2we-012
  71. job-board TalentUp. Software Tester Contractor Hourly Rate in Vietnam 2026 | TalentUp |. Published 2026-09-16, verified . ev-rate-g2ea-013
  72. vendor-rate-card Vendor rate card (delivery country: Vietnam); vendor name and link are published only in the evidence file. Published 2026-09-14, verified . ev-rate-g2ea-015

Questions

How do I estimate the monthly cost of a QA team?

Pick a country, an engagement model, the hours per month (default 160) and a count per role and seniority; the result is the sum of count x median x hours.

How many working hours per month does the calculator assume?

The default is 160 hours per month (8 hours x 20 days); annual figures multiply the monthly figure by 12.

Why is no rate shown for some country and role combinations?

A combination without a published figure is excluded from the total with a visible note; the calculator never substitutes a neighbouring figure.

What do the low, median and high figures in the estimate mean?

The low band uses p25 and the high band uses p75 in place of the median for every role in the team.

Can I share a QA team cost estimate with a link?

Every input is written to the URL query (c, m, h, r), so the link reproduces the same team and result.

Does the engagement model change the calculated team cost?

Yes: the calculator uses the median published for the selected model, so a different model gives a different total; 1 of 5 models has published records in this version (Hourly (time and materials)), and the other models return no published figure.

Cite this page

QA Rates Compare (2026). QA team cost calculator, data version 1.0.0. https://qaratescompare.com/calculator/. Accessed 2026-10-20.

Figures are medians of published observations converted to USD at the quarterly ECB reference rate shown in the footer. They describe market ranges on the verification date, not quotes. Monthly and annual figures assume the hours stated on this page. Confidence grades are defined on the methodology page. This site does not recommend providers.