Hire QA Engineer in Portugal
QA engineers ensure software quality through testing strategies, automated test frameworks, bug tracking, and quality assurance processes throughout the development cycle. Find out how much it costs to hire a qa engineer in Portugal and how much you can save compared to US hiring.
Median Salary
$38,000
Total Cost
$48,165
Savings vs US
59%
Annual Savings
$68,835
Annual Cost Comparison
Mid-level qa engineer · Full-time · Including employer costs
YOUR SAVINGS
$68,835/year
59% less than hiring in the US
Hiring a mid-level qa engineer in Portugal costs $48,165 per year including employer contributions, compared to $117,000 for the same role in the United States. That's an annual savings of $68,835 (59%) per hire. Over a 3-year engagement, this adds up to $206,505 in total cost reduction for a single position.
Timezone Overlap
US Eastern Time vs Portugal (UTC+0)
US (ET)
Portugal
Overlap
3h
Daily Overlap
9am-12pm
Best Meeting Window (ET)
Portugal operates at UTC+0, which is 5 hours ahead of US Eastern Time. With 3 hours of daily overlap, you can schedule key meetings, daily standups, and sync sessions within the shared working window. Plan async handoffs for tasks that need to continue outside this window. Many distributed teams operate effectively with this level of overlap using tools like Slack, Loom, and Linear.
QA Engineer Salary Ranges in Portugal
Annual salary range by experience level
QA Engineer salaries in Portugal range from $20,000 (entry-level) to $72,000 (senior), with mid-level professionals earning a median of $38,000 per year. Savings compared to US salaries are consistent across experience levels: 62% at junior level and 54% at senior level. The relatively narrow salary range indicates predictable hiring costs with less negotiation variance.
QA Engineer Salaries in Portugal (2026)
| Experience Level | Salary Range | Median | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
Junior 0-2 years | $20,000 - $30,000 | $25,000 | Save 62% |
Mid-Level 2-5 years | $30,000 - $48,000 | $38,000 | Save 58% |
Senior 5+ years | $48,000 - $72,000 | $58,000 | Save 54% |
Ready to hire a QA Engineer in Portugal?
Hire through Deel*Salary data based on industry surveys and job market analysis. Last updated January 2026. Actual salaries vary by specific skills, company size, and location within Portugal.
Calculate Your Hiring Costs
Cost in Portugal
$48,165/year
Range: $38,025 - $60,840
US Equivalent Cost
$117,000/year
Range: $97,500 - $136,500
Your Savings
59%
$68,835/year saved
Very good savings
Cost Breakdown
Save 59% hiring QA Engineers in Portugal
Deel handles payroll, compliance, and benefits. No local entity needed.
Key Skills for QA Engineers
Why Hire QA Engineers in Portugal?
Portugal offers a growing talent market for qa engineers. High English proficiency enables seamless communication. European working hours provide some US overlap.
Cost Advantage
Save 59% compared to US hiring. A mid-level qa engineer costs ~$48,165/year total (including 26.75% employer burden), compared to ~$117,000/year in the US. That's $68,835 saved annually per hire.
Talent Quality
Portugal's tech sector is rapidly growing, producing skilled qa engineers at competitive rates. The market offers strong value—experienced professionals without the premium of fully mature markets.
Communication
English proficiency in Portugal is rated high. Most qa engineers communicate effectively in English, both written and verbal. You can expect smooth collaboration on complex topics without language barriers.
Timezone & Collaboration
Portugal operates in UTC+0. There's moderate overlap with US East Coast (4-5 hours). QA Engineers can attend morning meetings (their afternoon) and work asynchronously the rest of the day. This can actually increase focused work time.
Compare QA Engineer Costs in Other Countries
Explore qa engineer salaries across all 9 other countries in our database, sorted by cost from lowest to highest.
Vietnam
asia$14,000
Save 85% vs US
UTC+7India
asia$15,000
Save 85% vs US
UTC+5:30Philippines
asia$17,000
Save 83% vs US
UTC+8Argentina
latam$21,000
Save 76% vs US
UTC-3Colombia
latam$22,000
Save 76% vs US
UTC-5Brazil
latam$25,000
Save 70% vs US
UTC-3Ukraine
europe$26,000
Save 72% vs US
UTC+2Mexico
latam$27,000
Save 72% vs US
UTC-6Poland
europe$40,000
Save 59% vs US
UTC+1Related Outsourcing Guides
Learn more about outsourcing strategies that work well for qa engineers.
FAQs: Hiring QA Engineers in Portugal
A QA Engineer in Portugal costs between $20,000 (junior) and $72,000 (senior) annually in base salary. The median mid-level salary is $38,000. Adding 26.75% employer costs, total compensation for a mid-level hire is approximately $48,165/year. Compare this to the US median of $90,000—you're saving roughly $52,000 per year (58%).
Salary data compiled from industry surveys, job boards, and employment reports. Employer costs based on official government rates. Last updated January 2026.
Save 59% hiring QA Engineers in Portugal
Deel handles payroll, compliance, and benefits. No local entity needed.