QA / Software Test Engineer Salary in Karachi, Pakistan (2026)
- Average: PKR 94,000 per month (PKR 1,128,000 per year).
- Range: PKR 61,000 to PKR 150,000 per month.
- Take-home at the average: about PKR 93,560 per month after FY 2026-27 income tax.
- Versus other cities: ranks #1 of 12 cities, 43% above the cross-city average.
- Versus other jobs in Karachi: #15 of 52 professions tracked.
Wondering what a QA / Software Test Engineer actually earns in Karachi? Pay varies by experience and employer size. Still, the typical monthly figure hovers around PKR 94,000 for this role in the city.
The QA / Software Test Engineer job market in Karachi sees consistent, moderate demand across small and mid-sized employers.
Karachi tops the list for QA / Software Test Engineer pay out of the 12 cities compared here — roughly 43% higher than the PKR 65,916 average seen across all tracked cities.
Karachi is Pakistan's largest city and primary commercial hub, which generally means higher salary offers but also a higher cost of living than most other cities.
QA / Software Test Engineer Salary by Experience Level in Karachi
Pay for this role typically grows in stages as you gain experience. Here is roughly how QA / Software Test Engineer salaries in Karachi break down by career stage. The senior band tops out at about 2.5 times the bottom of the entry-level band, which shows how much career progression can be worth in this field.
| Experience Level | Typical Monthly Salary | Approx. Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level (0–2 years) | PKR 61,000 – PKR 71,000 | PKR 732,000 – PKR 852,000 |
| Mid-Level (3–6 years) | PKR 71,000 – PKR 113,000 | PKR 852,000 – PKR 1,356,000 |
| Senior-Level (7+ years) | PKR 113,000 – PKR 150,000 | PKR 1,356,000 – PKR 1,800,000 |
Take-Home Pay for a QA / Software Test Engineer in Karachi (FY 2026-27 Tax)
Gross salary is not what lands in your bank account. Salaried individuals pay progressive income tax, which is withheld by the employer every month. Under the slabs that took effect on 1 July 2026, annual income up to Rs 600,000 (Rs 50,000 a month) is tax-free, and rates then rise in eight steps from 1% to 35%. At the Karachi average of PKR 94,000, an estimated PKR 440 a month goes to income tax, which is an effective rate of 0.5%.
| Level | Gross / month | Income tax / month | Take-home / month | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level (typical) | PKR 66,000 | PKR 160 | PKR 65,840 | 0.2% |
| Mid-level (typical) | PKR 92,000 | PKR 420 | PKR 91,580 | 0.5% |
| Senior-level (typical) | PKR 131,500 | PKR 3,965 | PKR 127,535 | 3.0% |
| City average | PKR 94,000 | PKR 440 | PKR 93,560 | 0.5% |
These figures cover federal income tax only. Your payslip may also show provident fund, EOBI, insurance or loan deductions. Use the calculator below to test your own number, or open the full salary tax calculator for slab details and examples.
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Annual Tax:
Monthly Tax:
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About the QA / Software Test Engineer Role
What does a QA / Software Test Engineer do?
A QA or software test engineer makes sure software works before users find the problems. Duties include writing test plans and cases, running manual and automated tests, reporting and tracking bugs, and checking releases for regressions. As teams release faster, QA has shifted from clicking through screens to building automation and testing APIs.
What drives QA / Software Test Engineer pay?
The gap between manual-only testers and automation engineers is large. Automation, performance and security testing skills, along with ownership of release quality, drive pay. Companies serving overseas clients usually pay more for testers who can also communicate well in English.
The Karachi Job Market for QA / Software Test Engineer Roles
Karachi is Pakistan's largest city and its commercial and financial centre. The State Bank of Pakistan, the Pakistan Stock Exchange, most major banks' head offices and two busy seaports sit here, so jobs in finance, trade, shipping, logistics, FMCG, telecom and pharma are concentrated in the city. Industrial zones such as SITE, Korangi and Port Qasim employ large numbers of engineers, technicians and factory staff, while Clifton, Shahrah-e-Faisal and DHA host corporate offices and a growing technology and startup scene. Salaries for qualified professionals are often among the highest in the country, but rent, transport and daily costs are also high, and long commutes can eat into take-home pay. Employers value experience at multinationals and large local conglomerates, and moving between them is the quickest way to raise pay.
See the full salary guide for Karachi for every profession we track in the city.
What Affects QA / Software Test Engineer Salary in Karachi?
Salary for QA / Software Test Engineer positions varies heavily based on whether the company serves local clients or international ones, your portfolio of shipped projects, and increasingly, familiarity with AI-assisted development tools.
Technology Careers: What Employers Pay For
Technology is the most globally portable career field in Pakistan. Software houses, product companies, banks, telecoms and fintech firms all compete for engineers, and many professionals also sell their skills directly to clients abroad. That outside market sets a ceiling above what purely local employers can pay, which is why experienced developers often see offers jump when they change jobs.
What employers pay for
Salaries follow demonstrable skill rather than degree alone. Hands-on experience with in-demand stacks (cloud, mobile, data, security, modern web frameworks), proven delivery on real products and strong English communication consistently raise pay. Companies that earn in dollars, venture-backed startups and multinationals pay the highest bands, while service-only firms serving small local clients pay less.
How to negotiate
Come with a portfolio, GitHub profile or case studies, and quantify your results: performance improvements, users served, revenue supported. Compare the full package, including annual increments, bonuses, medical cover, provident fund, remote or hybrid options and learning budgets. In this field, a competing offer is the strongest negotiating tool.
Where growth comes from
Move toward ownership: lead features, mentor juniors, take responsibility for production systems and learn adjacent skills such as cloud and security. Decide early whether you want the technical track (architect, principal engineer) or the management track, and build the matching evidence. Continuous learning is not optional, because tools change quickly.
How to Increase Your Salary as a QA / Software Test Engineer in Karachi
Engineers who grow fastest in Karachi tend to specialize early (backend, mobile, DevOps, etc.), contribute to open-source or freelance projects on the side, and actively negotiate using market-rate data rather than accepting the first offer.
Actual offers can vary — company budgets, your negotiation, and specific skill sets all play a role. Try the take-home pay calculator below to see your real, after-tax monthly figure.
QA / Software Test Engineer Salary: Karachi vs Other Pakistani Cities
Location changes pay noticeably. Across the 12 cities we track, the average QA / Software Test Engineer salary runs from PKR 49,000 to PKR 94,000 per month. Karachi is highlighted below. Higher pay in larger cities is partly offset by higher rent and transport costs, so compare take-home pay against your living costs rather than the headline number.
| City | Average / month | Compared with Karachi |
|---|---|---|
| Karachi | PKR 94,000 | This page |
| Islamabad | PKR 92,000 | -2% |
| Lahore | PKR 85,000 | -10% |
| Rawalpindi | PKR 77,000 | -18% |
| Sialkot | PKR 61,000 | -35% |
| Gujranwala | PKR 60,000 | -36% |
| Faisalabad | PKR 58,000 | -38% |
| Hyderabad | PKR 56,000 | -40% |
| Peshawar | PKR 55,000 | -41% |
| Multan | PKR 53,000 | -44% |
| Quetta | PKR 51,000 | -46% |
| Sargodha | PKR 49,000 | -48% |
How QA / Software Test Engineer Pay Compares With Other Technology Roles in Karachi
In Karachi, QA / Software Test Engineer ranks #15 out of 52 professions in our data. Here is how it sits against related roles in the same field, which is useful if you are considering a move within technology.
| Role | Average / month | Difference from QA / Software Test Engineer |
|---|---|---|
| DevOps Engineer | PKR 176,000 | +87% |
| Software Engineer | PKR 154,000 | +64% |
| Mobile App Developer | PKR 121,000 | +29% |
| Data Analyst | PKR 110,000 | +17% |
| UI/UX Designer | PKR 105,000 | +12% |
| Web Developer | PKR 99,000 | +5% |
| Network Administrator | PKR 83,000 | -12% |
| IT Support Specialist | PKR 61,000 | -35% |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average QA / Software Test Engineer salary in Karachi?
The average QA / Software Test Engineer salary in Karachi is around PKR 94,000 per month, based on current market observation. Actual pay depends on experience, employer, and negotiation.
What is the salary range for a QA / Software Test Engineer in Karachi?
QA / Software Test Engineer salaries in Karachi generally range from PKR 61,000 to PKR 150,000 per month, depending on experience level, company size, and specific skill set.
What is the entry-level QA / Software Test Engineer salary in Karachi?
Entry-level QA / Software Test Engineer professionals in Karachi typically start around PKR 61,000 to PKR 71,000 per month, rising as they gain experience and take on more responsibility.
Is Karachi a good city for QA / Software Test Engineer jobs?
Karachi offers a reasonably steady job market for QA / Software Test Engineer roles — neither oversaturated nor scarce, with consistent opportunities across different employers.
How does QA / Software Test Engineer salary in Karachi compare to other cities in Pakistan?
Among the 12 cities tracked here, Karachi ranks #1 for QA / Software Test Engineer pay, running roughly 43% above the cross-city average of PKR 65,916 per month.
What is the take-home salary of a QA / Software Test Engineer in Karachi?
At the average of PKR 94,000 per month, the estimated federal income tax under the FY 2026-27 slabs is about PKR 440 a month, leaving roughly PKR 93,560 in take-home pay, an effective tax rate of 0.5%. Provident fund, EOBI and other deductions are not included.
What is the senior QA / Software Test Engineer salary in Karachi?
Senior QA / Software Test Engineer professionals in Karachi (typically 7+ years) are generally in the PKR 113,000 to PKR 150,000 per month band, about 2.5 times the bottom of the entry-level range, with the highest pay going to people who combine technical depth with leadership or specialist skills.
Which city pays the most for QA / Software Test Engineer in Pakistan?
In our data, Karachi pays the most for QA / Software Test Engineer at about PKR 94,000 per month on average, while Karachi is at PKR 94,000. City pay differs mainly because of employer concentration, cost of living and the share of export-oriented or multinational firms.
Is the QA / Software Test Engineer salary in Karachi above the minimum wage?
Yes. The average of PKR 94,000 is above the FY 2026-27 minimum wage announced for Sindh (PKR 43,000). The legal minimum is a floor for unskilled work, not a market rate for skilled roles.
How can I increase my QA / Software Test Engineer salary in Karachi?
The most reliable levers are specialised skills that employers struggle to find, recognised certifications, a documented record of results, and moving to employers that pay above the local average. Compare at least two offers before negotiating, and negotiate on total compensation including benefits, not only base pay.
QA / Software Test Engineer Salary in Other Cities
Compare how this role pays across the cities we track.
Other Jobs in Karachi
Browse salaries for other professions in the same city.