QA Rates Compare

QA outsourcing rates in Western Europe

$80 / hour

Median (the middle value) of 2 member-country medians for a middle Manual QA Engineer under the Hourly (time and materials) model: $80 per hour.

Regional medians (median of member medians, USD per hour, at least 2 members)
Role, level, modelMedianMembers
Manual QA Engineer, Middle, Hourly (time and materials)$80Germany, United Kingdom
QA Automation Engineer, Middle, Hourly (time and materials)$82Germany, United Kingdom
Security Test Engineer, Middle, Hourly (time and materials)$123Germany, United Kingdom
QA Lead, Lead / Principal, Hourly (time and materials)$106Germany, United Kingdom
Western Europe: middle-level median hourly rate (USD) by country and role
United Kingdom$79 A$79 B$79 A$76 B$98 Awithheldwithheld$108 A
Germany$80 B$85 Bwithheldwithheld$148 Bwithheldwithheldwithheld
Netherlandswithheldwithheldwithheldwithheldwithheldwithheldwithheldwithheld
Spainwithheldwithheldwithheldwithheldwithheldwithheldwithheldwithheld
Portugalwithheldwithheldwithheldwithheldwithheldwithheldwithheldwithheld

SDET: software development engineer in test; builds test frameworks and test infrastructure in code.

Letters are confidence grades: A high confidence, B medium confidence, C indicative. Cells marked withheld have fewer than 2 independent sources.

Spread between member countries

For a middle Security Test Engineer under the Hourly (time and materials) model, the United Kingdom has the lowest member median at $98 and Germany the highest at $148 per hour, a gap of 51%.

Sources

  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 IT Jobs Watch. SDET Contract Job Trends, Contractor Rates & Related Skills | IT Jobs Watch. Published 2026-10-18, verified . ev-rate-united-kingdom-005
  11. survey Henderson Scott. Technology Salary Guide 2026. Published 2025-11-06, verified . ev-rate-gfua-001
  12. fx European Central Bank. ECB euro foreign exchange reference rates (SDMX EXR). Published 2026-10-16, verified . ev-fx-2026-q4-gbp
  13. 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
  14. survey Henderson Scott. Technology Salary Guide 2026. Published 2025-11-06, verified . ev-rate-gfua-002
  15. survey Yolk Recruitment. Technology & Digital (Contract) Salary Survey 2025. Published 2025-06-17, verified . ev-rate-gfua-003
  16. 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
  17. 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
  18. 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
  19. 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
  20. 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
  21. 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
  22. 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
  23. 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
  24. 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
  25. 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
  26. 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
  27. 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
  28. 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
  29. 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
  30. 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
  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-016
  32. 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
  33. vendor-rate-card Vendor rate card (delivery country: United Kingdom); vendor name and link are published only in the evidence file. Published 2026-01-01, verified . ev-rate-united-kingdom-023
  34. 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
  35. 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
  36. vendor-rate-card Vendor rate card (delivery country: United Kingdom); vendor name and link are published only in the evidence file. Published 2026-01-26, verified . ev-rate-united-kingdom-015
  37. vendor-rate-card Vendor rate card (delivery country: United Kingdom); vendor name and link are published only in the evidence file. Published 2026-01-01, verified . ev-rate-united-kingdom-019
  38. 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
  39. vendor-rate-card Vendor rate card (delivery country: United Kingdom); vendor name and link are published only in the evidence file. Published 2026-01-19, verified . ev-rate-united-kingdom-030
  40. 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
  41. vendor-rate-card Vendor rate card (delivery country: United Kingdom); vendor name and link are published only in the evidence file. Published 2026-01-26, verified . ev-rate-united-kingdom-014
  42. 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
  43. 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
  44. 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
  45. vendor-rate-card Vendor rate card (delivery country: United Kingdom); vendor name and link are published only in the evidence file. Published 2026-01-26, verified . ev-rate-united-kingdom-011
  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-020
  47. vendor-rate-card Vendor rate card (delivery country: United Kingdom); vendor name and link are published only in the evidence file. Published 2026-01-01, verified . ev-rate-united-kingdom-025
  48. 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
  49. 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
  50. vendor-rate-card Vendor rate card (delivery country: United Kingdom); vendor name and link are published only in the evidence file. Published 2026-01-26, verified . ev-rate-united-kingdom-010
  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-021
  52. vendor-rate-card Vendor rate card (delivery country: United Kingdom); vendor name and link are published only in the evidence file. Published 2026-01-01, verified . ev-rate-united-kingdom-026
  53. 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

Questions

What are QA outsourcing rates in Western Europe?

For a Middle Manual QA Engineer (Hourly (time and materials)), the median of 2 member-country medians is $80 per hour.

How much do QA rates vary between countries in Western Europe?

For a middle Security Test Engineer, member medians run from $98 (United Kingdom) to $148 per hour (Germany).

Which countries are part of Western Europe in this data?

Member countries: the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal; 2 have a country page.

What time zones do QA teams in Western Europe work in?

Reference offsets in this region run from UTC+0 to UTC+1, a difference of 1 hour.

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.