Automation Test Lead Job Trends
Test Automation Leader
UK
The median Test Automation Leader salary in the UK is £71,500 per year, according to job vacancies posted during the 6 months leading to 14 November 2026.
The table below compares current salary benchmarking and summary statistics with the previous two years.
| 6 months to 14 Nov 2026 |
Same period 2025 | Same period 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | 830 | 626 | 736 |
| Rank change year-on-year | -204 | +110 | -51 |
| Permanent Automation Test Lead jobs | 15 | 38 | 18 |
| As % of all permanent jobs in the UK | 0.012% | 0.072% | 0.026% |
| As % of the Job Titles category | 0.013% | 0.080% | 0.028% |
| Number of salaries quoted | 10 | 16 | 5 |
| 10th Percentile | - | £52,625 | £60,500 |
| 25th Percentile | £55,000 | £56,250 | £61,250 |
| Median annual salary (50th Percentile) | £71,500 | £66,250 | £80,000 |
| Median % change year-on-year | +7.92% | -17.19% | +23.08% |
| 75th Percentile | £76,813 | £70,000 | £83,750 |
| 90th Percentile | £80,675 | £78,125 | £84,500 |
| UK excluding London median annual salary | £71,500 | £62,500 | £82,500 |
| % change year-on-year | +14.40% | -24.24% | +26.92% |
All Permanent IT Job Roles
UK
For comparison with the information above, the following table provides summary statistics for all permanent IT job adverts matching a recognised job title. The table also shows what proportion of all permanent IT job adverts they make up.
| 6 months to 14 Nov 2026 |
Same period 2025 | Same period 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Permanent job adverts in the UK matching a recognised job title | 113,211 | 47,633 | 64,486 |
| % of permanent job adverts matching a recognised job title | 91.78% | 89.91% | 94.87% |
| Number of salaries quoted | 74,692 | 29,457 | 36,303 |
| 10th Percentile | £31,250 | £28,250 | £31,250 |
| 25th Percentile | £41,485 | £35,000 | £42,500 |
| Median annual salary (50th Percentile) | £60,000 | £52,500 | £57,500 |
| Median % change year-on-year | +14.29% | -8.70% | -4.17% |
| 75th Percentile | £76,500 | £73,750 | £75,000 |
| 90th Percentile | £98,750 | £92,500 | £95,000 |
| UK excluding London median annual salary | £55,000 | £46,500 | £50,055 |
| % change year-on-year | +18.28% | -7.10% | -4.66% |
Automation Test Lead Job Vacancy Trend
Historical trend showing the proportion of permanent Automation Test Lead job postings relative to all permanent IT jobs advertised.
Automation Test Lead Salary Trend
Salary distribution trend for Automation Test Lead job vacancies in the UK.
Automation Test Lead Salary Histogram
Salary distribution for Automation Test Lead jobs over the 6 months to 14 November 2026.
Automation Test Lead Top 10 Job Locations
The table below looks at the demand and provides a guide to the median salaries quoted in Automation Test Lead jobs within the UK over the 6 months to 14 November 2026. The 'Rank Change' column provides an indication of the change in demand within each location based on the same 6 month period last year.
| Location | Rank Change on Same Period Last Year |
Job Ads Past 6 Months |
Median Salary Past 6 Months |
Median Salary % Change on Same Period Last Year |
Live Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| England | -189 | 15 | £71,500 | +7.92% | 67 |
| UK excluding London | -197 | 15 | £71,500 | +14.40% | 40 |
| East Midlands | -44 | 5 | £55,000 | -12.00% | |
| Midlands | -70 | 5 | £55,000 | -12.00% | 2 |
| Work from Home | -80 | 5 | £55,000 | -12.00% | 27 |
| South East | -94 | 4 | £86,500 | +28.15% | 12 |
| North of England | -106 | 3 | £77,500 | +44.86% | 14 |
| East of England | - | 3 | £71,500 | - | 7 |
| North East | - | 2 | £77,500 | - | 7 |
| Yorkshire | -35 | 1 | - | - | 3 |
Automation Test Lead Skill Set Top 30 Co-Occurring Skills & Capabilities
For the 6 months to 14 November 2026, Automation Test Lead job ads cited the following skills and capabilities in order of popularity. The figures indicate the absolute number of co-occurrences and as a proportion of all permanent Automation Test Lead job ads.
| Rank | Skill | Share | Job Ads |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Test Automation | 100.0% | 15 |
| 2 | Software Testing | 33.3% | 5 |
| 3 | Code Quality | 26.7% | 4 |
| 3 | Mentoring | 26.7% | 4 |
| 3 | Python | 26.7% | 4 |
| 3 | Test Strategy | 26.7% | 4 |
| 7 | Coaching | 20.0% | 3 |
| 7 | Continuous Improvement | 20.0% | 3 |
| 7 | Degree | 20.0% | 3 |
| 7 | Technical Leadership | 20.0% | 3 |
| 7 | Wireless | 20.0% | 3 |
| 12 | Selenium | 13.3% | 2 |
| 12 | Stakeholder Management | 13.3% | 2 |
| 14 | Agile | 6.7% | 1 |
| 14 | Analytics | 6.7% | 1 |
| 14 | Business Intelligence | 6.7% | 1 |
| 14 | Change Control | 6.7% | 1 |
| 14 | CISA | 6.7% | 1 |
| 14 | CISSP | 6.7% | 1 |
| 14 | COBIT | 6.7% | 1 |
| 14 | COSO | 6.7% | 1 |
| 14 | CRISC | 6.7% | 1 |
| 14 | Cucumber | 6.7% | 1 |
| 14 | Cybersecurity | 6.7% | 1 |
| 14 | Data Collection | 6.7% | 1 |
| 14 | Deployment Automation | 6.7% | 1 |
| 14 | Digital Transformation Programme | 6.7% | 1 |
| 14 | Identity Management | 6.7% | 1 |
| 14 | ISO 27001 Lead Auditor | 6.7% | 1 |
| 14 | ISO/IEC 27001 | 6.7% | 1 |
Automation Test Lead Skill Set Co-Occurring Skills & Capabilities by Category
The table below expands on the one above by listing co-occurrences one category at a time. It covers the same employment type, locality and period, with up to 20 co-occurrences in each category.
Job Titles
| Rank | Job Title | Share | Job Ads |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Test Leader | 80.0% | 12 |
| 2 | Automation Team Leader | 20.0% | 3 |
| 2 | Test Team Leader | 20.0% | 3 |
| 4 | Lead Test Engineer | 13.3% | 2 |
| 4 | Test Automation Engineer | 13.3% | 2 |