QA / Software Test Engineer Salary in Faisalabad, Pakistan (2026)
- Average: PKR 58,000 per month (PKR 696,000 per year).
- Range: PKR 38,000 to PKR 93,000 per month.
- Take-home at the average: about PKR 57,920 per month after FY 2026-27 income tax.
- Versus other cities: ranks #7 of 12 cities, 12% below the cross-city average.
- Versus other jobs in Faisalabad: #15 of 52 professions tracked.
Faisalabad has no shortage of QA / Software Test Engineer openings, but pay expectations here differ from other cities. Based on current figures, PKR 58,000 per month is roughly where the average lands for this role.
The QA / Software Test Engineer job market in Faisalabad sees consistent, moderate demand across small and mid-sized employers.
Compared to the 12 other cities tracked here, Faisalabad sits at #7 for QA / Software Test Engineer pay, roughly 12% below the overall average of PKR 65,916.
Faisalabad's economy is heavily driven by textiles and manufacturing, and salaries for corporate/service roles tend to run below Tier 1 cities.
QA / Software Test Engineer Salary by Experience Level in Faisalabad
Pay for this role typically grows in stages as you gain experience. Here is roughly how QA / Software Test Engineer salaries in Faisalabad break down by career stage. The senior band tops out at about 2.4 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 38,000 – PKR 44,000 | PKR 456,000 – PKR 528,000 |
| Mid-Level (3–6 years) | PKR 44,000 – PKR 70,000 | PKR 528,000 – PKR 840,000 |
| Senior-Level (7+ years) | PKR 70,000 – PKR 93,000 | PKR 840,000 – PKR 1,116,000 |
Take-Home Pay for a QA / Software Test Engineer in Faisalabad (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 Faisalabad average of PKR 58,000, an estimated PKR 80 a month goes to income tax, which is an effective rate of 0.1%.
| Level | Gross / month | Income tax / month | Take-home / month | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level (typical) | PKR 41,000 | PKR 0 | PKR 41,000 | 0.0% |
| Mid-level (typical) | PKR 57,000 | PKR 70 | PKR 56,930 | 0.1% |
| Senior-level (typical) | PKR 81,500 | PKR 315 | PKR 81,185 | 0.4% |
| City average | PKR 58,000 | PKR 80 | PKR 57,920 | 0.1% |
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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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 Faisalabad Job Market for QA / Software Test Engineer Roles
Faisalabad is Pakistan's textile capital and one of its largest industrial cities, often called the Manchester of Pakistan. Spinning, weaving, processing and garment units, along with power looms and allied industries, provide the bulk of jobs. The city's agricultural university and a thriving trading culture also support engineering, agriculture and commerce careers. Salaries in textile management, merchandising, quality control and engineering are competitive within Punjab, and many firms export directly, which keeps technical skills in demand. Living costs are considerably lower than in Karachi, Lahore or Islamabad, so mid-level salaries go further. The city's information technology and freelancing sector is growing, though it remains smaller than in the larger metros.
See the full salary guide for Faisalabad for every profession we track in the city.
What Affects QA / Software Test Engineer Salary in Faisalabad?
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 Faisalabad
Engineers who grow fastest in Faisalabad 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.
Keep in mind these figures are estimates based on observed market patterns and can shift with experience, company size, and negotiation. Use the calculator on this page to see what this salary looks like after tax deductions.
QA / Software Test Engineer Salary: Faisalabad 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. Faisalabad 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 Faisalabad |
|---|---|---|
| Karachi | PKR 94,000 | +62% |
| Islamabad | PKR 92,000 | +59% |
| Lahore | PKR 85,000 | +47% |
| Rawalpindi | PKR 77,000 | +33% |
| Sialkot | PKR 61,000 | +5% |
| Gujranwala | PKR 60,000 | +3% |
| Faisalabad | PKR 58,000 | This page |
| Hyderabad | PKR 56,000 | -3% |
| Peshawar | PKR 55,000 | -5% |
| Multan | PKR 53,000 | -9% |
| Quetta | PKR 51,000 | -12% |
| Sargodha | PKR 49,000 | -16% |
How QA / Software Test Engineer Pay Compares With Other Technology Roles in Faisalabad
In Faisalabad, 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 109,000 | +88% |
| Software Engineer | PKR 95,000 | +64% |
| Mobile App Developer | PKR 75,000 | +29% |
| Data Analyst | PKR 68,000 | +17% |
| UI/UX Designer | PKR 65,000 | +12% |
| Web Developer | PKR 61,000 | +5% |
| Network Administrator | PKR 51,000 | -12% |
| IT Support Specialist | PKR 37,000 | -36% |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average QA / Software Test Engineer salary in Faisalabad?
The average QA / Software Test Engineer salary in Faisalabad is around PKR 58,000 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 Faisalabad?
QA / Software Test Engineer salaries in Faisalabad generally range from PKR 38,000 to PKR 93,000 per month, depending on experience level, company size, and specific skill set.
What is the entry-level QA / Software Test Engineer salary in Faisalabad?
Entry-level QA / Software Test Engineer professionals in Faisalabad typically start around PKR 38,000 to PKR 44,000 per month, rising as they gain experience and take on more responsibility.
Is Faisalabad a good city for QA / Software Test Engineer jobs?
Faisalabad 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 Faisalabad compare to other cities in Pakistan?
Among the 12 cities tracked here, Faisalabad ranks #7 for QA / Software Test Engineer pay, running roughly 12% below the cross-city average of PKR 65,916 per month.
What is the take-home salary of a QA / Software Test Engineer in Faisalabad?
At the average of PKR 58,000 per month, the estimated federal income tax under the FY 2026-27 slabs is about PKR 80 a month, leaving roughly PKR 57,920 in take-home pay, an effective tax rate of 0.1%. Provident fund, EOBI and other deductions are not included.
What is the senior QA / Software Test Engineer salary in Faisalabad?
Senior QA / Software Test Engineer professionals in Faisalabad (typically 7+ years) are generally in the PKR 70,000 to PKR 93,000 per month band, about 2.4 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 Faisalabad is at PKR 58,000. 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 Faisalabad above the minimum wage?
Yes. The average of PKR 58,000 is above the FY 2026-27 minimum wage announced for Punjab (PKR 40,000). 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 Faisalabad?
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 Faisalabad
Browse salaries for other professions in the same city.