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Software Quality Assurance Engineer or Tester

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What Do Software Quality Assurance Engineer or Tester Do?

Software Quality Assurance Engineer or Tester Job Description Develop and execute software test plans in order to identify software problems and their causes.

Life As a Software Quality Assurance Engineer or Tester: What Do They Do?

  • Install, maintain, or use software testing programs.
  • Document test procedures to ensure replicability and compliance with standards.
  • Evaluate or recommend software for testing or bug tracking.
  • Develop or specify standards, methods, or procedures to determine product quality or release readiness.
  • Visit beta testing sites to evaluate software performance.
  • Design test plans, scenarios, scripts, or procedures.

Software Quality Assurance Engineer or Tester Needed Skills

Software Quality Assurance Engineers and Testers state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Programming: Writing computer programs for various purposes.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

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.

Other Software Quality Assurance Engineer or Tester Job Titles

  • Quality Assurance Director (QA Director)
  • Quality Assurance Test Program Manager (QA Assurance Test Program Manager)
  • Software Quality Engineer
  • Quality Assurance Lead (QA Lead)
  • Systems Engineer

Job Outlook for Software Quality Assurance Engineers and Testers

There were about 287,200 jobs for Software Quality Assurance Engineer or Tester in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 9.3% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 26,600 new jobs for Software Quality Assurance Engineer or Tester by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 22,400 job openings in this field each year.

Forecasted Number of Jobs for Software Quality Assurance Engineers and Testers in U.S.

The states with the most job growth for Software Quality Assurance Engineer or Tester are Washington, Utah, and Nevada. Watch out if you plan on working in Alaska, Maryland, or Mississippi. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

What is the Average Salary of a Software Quality Assurance Engineer or Tester

Software Quality Assurance Engineers and Testers make between $47,350 and $144,820 a year.

Salary Ranges for Software Quality Assurance Engineers and Testers

Software Quality Assurance Engineers and Testers who work in District of Columbia, Maryland, or New Hampshire, make the highest salaries.

Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Software Quality Assurance Engineers and Testers in different U.S. states.

State Annual Mean Salary
Alabama $87,060
Alaska $98,830
Arizona $85,010
Arkansas $73,670
California $103,270
Colorado $102,470
Connecticut $100,340
District of Columbia $117,540
Florida $78,900
Georgia $90,140
Hawaii $89,960
Idaho $80,610
Indiana $79,310
Iowa $78,810
Kansas $79,300
Kentucky $79,420
Louisiana $66,600
Maine $79,790
Maryland $113,330
Massachusetts $92,110
Michigan $76,400
Minnesota $81,650
Mississippi $81,280
Missouri $82,610
Montana $68,430
Nebraska $86,230
Nevada $72,610
New Hampshire $112,440
New Jersey $99,210
New Mexico $79,540
New York $90,750
North Carolina $88,650
North Dakota $70,730
Ohio $82,440
Oklahoma $78,490
Oregon $79,610
Pennsylvania $87,040
Rhode Island $81,290
South Carolina $92,100
South Dakota $81,250
Tennessee $74,000
Texas $90,290
Utah $76,890
Vermont $72,220
Virginia $105,270
Washington $91,620
West Virginia $83,660
Wisconsin $74,600
Wyoming $75,780

Tools & Technologies Used by Software Quality Assurance Engineers and Testers

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Software Quality Assurance Engineers and Testers:

How do I Become a Software Quality Assurance Engineer or Tester?

Are there Software Quality Assurance Engineers and Testers education requirements?

Software Quality Assurance Engineer or Tester Degree Level

What work experience do I need to become a Software Quality Assurance Engineer or Tester?

Software Quality Assurance Engineer or Tester Work Experience

Software Quality Assurance Engineers and Testers Sector

Software Quality Assurance Engineer or Tester Sectors

Below are examples of industries where Software Quality Assurance Engineers and Testers work:

Software Quality Assurance Engineer or Tester Industries

References:

Image Credit: U.S. Army graphic via Public domain

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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