Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers
Information TechnologyO*NET 15-1253.00United States
Develop and execute software tests to identify software problems and their causes. Test system modifications to prepare for implementation.
- Median annual earnings
- $104,202
- Projected change
- +13.1%
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Employment
- 187.3K jobs
50th percentile, United States
2025 to 2035
50% of the workforce
Growing to 211.76K by 2035
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The work
What software quality assurance analysts and testers do
Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.
- Identify, analyze, and document problems with program function, output, online screen, or content.
- Document software defects, using a bug tracking system, and report defects to software developers.
- Develop testing programs that address areas such as database impacts, software scenarios, regression testing, negative testing, error or bug retests, or usability.
- Design test plans, scenarios, scripts, or procedures.
- Document test procedures to ensure replicability and compliance with standards.
- Install, maintain, or use software testing programs.
- Provide feedback and recommendations to developers on software usability and functionality.
- Test system modifications to prepare for implementation.
- Create or maintain databases of known test defects.
- Monitor bug resolution efforts and track successes.
- Develop or specify standards, methods, or procedures to determine product quality or release readiness.
- Update automated test scripts to ensure currency.
- Participate in product design reviews to provide input on functional requirements, product designs, schedules, or potential problems.
- Plan test schedules or strategies in accordance with project scope or delivery dates.
- Monitor program performance to ensure efficient and problem-free operations.
- Conduct software compatibility tests with programs, hardware, operating systems, or network environments.
- Investigate customer problems referred by technical support.
- Review software documentation to ensure technical accuracy, compliance, or completeness, or to mitigate risks.
- Identify program deviance from standards, and suggest modifications to ensure compliance.
- Perform initial debugging procedures by reviewing configuration files, logs, or code pieces to determine breakdown source.
- Design or develop automated testing tools.
- Install and configure recreations of software production environments to allow testing of software performance.
- Collaborate with field staff or customers to evaluate or diagnose problems and recommend possible solutions.
- Coordinate user or third-party testing.
- Visit beta testing sites to evaluate software performance.
- Conduct historical analyses of test results.
- Evaluate or recommend software for testing or bug tracking.
Pay and outlook
What the job pays and where it is heading
Annual earnings range
Reported earnings by percentile, United States
- 10th percentile
- $61,361
- 25th percentile
- $80,205
- 50th percentile
- $104,202
- 75th percentile
- $133,111
- 90th percentile
- $167,056
The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $104,202 and half earn less.
Employment outlook
2025 to 2035 projection
+13.1%faster than average
2025187,296 jobs
2035 projected211,756 jobs
24,460 more positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.
Preparation
Education levels
What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.
- Bachelor's degree
- 50%
- Associate degree
- 26.5%
- Certificate
- 8.8%
- Some college
- 8.8%
- High school diploma or less
- 2.9%
- Master's or Professional degree
- 2.9%
Skills
Skills employers ask for
Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.
How the work gets done
Core competencies
Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.
- Reading Comprehension
- Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
- Active Listening
- Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Speaking
- Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Critical Thinking
- Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
- Writing
- Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Programming
- Writing computer programs for various purposes.
- Monitoring
- Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Quality Control Analysis
- Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
- Complex Problem Solving
- Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Systems Evaluation
- Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Operations Analysis
- Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.
- Active Learning
- Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Systems Analysis
- Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
- Time Management
- Managing one's own time and the time of others.
- Coordination
- Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Operations Monitoring
- Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
- Learning Strategies
- Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
- Troubleshooting
- Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
- Social Perceptiveness
- Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
In the market
Job titles and employers
Recent job postings in United StatesCommon job titles
- 01Test Engineers2,896 postings
- 02Quality Assurance Engineers1,761 postings
- 03Quality Assurance Automation Engineers1,415 postings
- 04Test Automation Engineers1,368 postings
- 05Software Test Engineers1,216 postings
- 06Quality Assurance Analysts1,120 postings
- 07Soc Analysts962 postings
- 08Software Development Engineers in Test877 postings
- 09Quality Assurance Testers800 postings
- 10Validation Engineers663 postings
- 11Software Quality Engineers633 postings
- 12Quality Engineers583 postings
- 13Test Center Administrators574 postings
- 14Integration and Test Engineers542 postings
- 15Software Quality Assurance Consultants531 postings
- 16Automation Specialists481 postings
- 17Testers481 postings
- 18Systems Test Engineers474 postings
- 19Quality Assurance Specialists449 postings
- 20Automation Testers436 postings
Top employers
- 01GovCIO1,073 postings
- 02Pearson Education778 postings
- 03Lockheed Martin629 postings
- 04Cognizant Technology Solutions619 postings
- 05Apple550 postings
- 06Insight Global512 postings
- 07Psi Services458 postings
- 08Actalent420 postings
- 09Accenture390 postings
- 10Beacon Hill Staffing Group363 postings
- 11KPMG327 postings
- 12Leidos311 postings
- 13Northrop Grumman310 postings
- 14ManpowerGroup260 postings
- 15Syms Strategic Group254 postings
- 16Trinnex247 postings
- 17PNC239 postings
- 18Capgemini234 postings
- 19Tata Consultancy Services230 postings
- 20TEKsystems229 postings
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