How to hire a junior tester

How to hire a junior tester, step by step

Here's a step-by-step junior tester hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a junior tester job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new junior tester
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a junior tester do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The junior tester hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect junior tester also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   Here's a comparison of junior tester salaries for various roles:

   Type of Junior Tester	Description	Hourly rate
   Junior Tester		$25-44
   Quality Assurance	The primary role of quality assurance specialists is to inspect the quality system's implementation and perform quality assurance audits. They are responsible for monitoring and recording results from procedures and processes within manufacturing industries... Show more	$13-44
   Quality Assurance Lead	A quality assurance lead, also known as QA Lead, is responsible for conducting necessary quality tests and analyses for software program and development. As a quality assurance lead, they must take the lead in ensuring quality during development by proactively performing critical evaluations, troubleshooting, and providing precise documentation... Show more	$34-59

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Test Results
   • Test Scripts
   • Manual Test Cases
   • Regression
   • Test Scenarios
   • Linux
   • Java
   • Test Strategy
   • QA
   • Test Plan
   • UAT
   • SQL Server
   • Test Procedures
   • UI

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage departmental inventory and troubleshoot testing, reporting and inventory issues.
   • Organize meetings to discuss outstanding issues with QA team and developers.
   • Raise defects in ALM QC during execution and tracking them until it get close.
   • Diagnose and troubleshot UNIX and windows processing problems and apply solutions to increase client security.
   • Used JIRA for repository, reporting and tracking bugs, and providing updates on resolve bugs.
   • Perform UAT for track customer behavior and spending habits and provide the issue list to the CCB for further action.

   More junior tester duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your junior tester job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A junior tester salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, junior testers' average salary in alaska is 49% less than in virginia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level junior testers earn 44% less than senior-level junior testers.
   • Certifications. A junior tester with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a junior tester's salary.

   Average junior tester salary

   $70,002yearly

   $33.65 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level junior tester salary

   $52,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

   Average junior tester salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Virginia	$82,589	$40
   2	New Jersey	$79,338	$38
   3	New York	$78,902	$38
   4	District of Columbia	$76,506	$37
   5	South Carolina	$73,202	$35
   6	Massachusetts	$73,040	$35
   7	Illinois	$72,206	$35
   8	Connecticut	$70,639	$34
   9	North Carolina	$69,992	$34
   10	Pennsylvania	$69,081	$33
   11	Texas	$68,776	$33
   12	California	$67,106	$32
   13	Tennessee	$65,930	$32
   14	Maryland	$62,183	$30
   15	Ohio	$60,019	$29
   16	Washington	$57,160	$27

   Average junior tester salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	QSSI	$85,828	$41.26
   2	Western & Southern Financial Group	$83,795	$40.29	2
   3	Nexient	$83,255	$40.03
   4	Spectraforce Technologies	$82,868	$39.84
   5	Numerix	$81,854	$39.35
   6	ProMed	$79,018	$37.99
   7	Aurobindo Pharma USA	$77,319	$37.17	1
   8	Experis US Inc	$75,403	$36.25
   9	Accenture	$75,201	$36.15	32
   10	Motion Recruitment	$74,909	$36.01	7
   11	Randstad North America, Inc.	$73,448	$35.31	10
   12	ArcBest	$73,075	$35.13	1
   13	Blue Sky Studios	$71,345	$34.30
   14	icon Mechanical	$69,671	$33.50
   15	Precision Castparts	$66,654	$32.05	5
   16	Vectrus	$64,043	$30.79
   17	Sony Electronics	$61,539	$29.59	8
   18	P&G	$58,735	$28.24	9
   19	Raytheon Technologies	$57,882	$27.83	29
   20	Paylocity	$49,101	$23.61	13

4. Writing a junior tester job description

   A junior tester job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a junior tester job description:

   Junior tester job description example

   + The Junior Tester works as part of a team to perform testing of the installation, operation, and removal of software applications delivered to workstations (Windows and Mac) built with USDA images.
   Responsibilities
   
   + The Junior Tester will ensure that the software delivered to test systems meets Technical Management Branch (TMB) defined standards, and compliance requirements.
   
   + The Junior Tester is responsible for reviewing and providing input for a project's testing requirements, and ensuring both the environment and projects meet these requirements.
   
   + As part of the test, the Junior Tester will execute tools to record file and registry changes made to the test system during installation, operation, and the removal of software
   
   + The Junior Tester will then review these changes to ensure the application meets defined standards.
   
   + The Junior Tester is responsible for providing accurate test results for assigned projects to include the completion of required test results documentation.
   
   + The Junior Tester is responsible for assisting in the administration of the certification environment.
   
   + The Junior Tester performs other duties and assignments as required.
   
   + The Junior Tester is responsible for building workstations with Client Experience Center (CEC) images
   
   Qualifications
   
   + Minimum Qualification:
   
   + High School plus advanced training
   
   + Experience:
   
   + 1 yr of IT related experience
   
   + Required Skills:
   
   + Experience in the installation and operation of software packages.
   
   + Familiarity working with Microsoft Windows workstation and server platforms
   
   + Experience with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, etc.).
   
   + Strong verbal, written and communication skills.
   
   + Preferred Skills:
   
   + SharePoint experience as a user
   
   + Experience in working in a Windows Active Directory environment
   
   + Familiarity with virtualized workstations such as VMWare and Hyper-V a plus.
   
   We are committed to an inclusive and diverse workplace that values and supports the contributions of each individual. This commitment along with our common Vision and Values of Integrity, Respect, and Responsibility, allows us to leverage differences, encourage innovation and expand our success in the global marketplace. Vectrus is an Equal Opportunity /Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, protected veteran status or status as an individual with a disability. EOE/Minority/Female/Disabled/Veteran.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find junior testers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any junior testers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level junior testers with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your junior tester job on Zippia to find and recruit junior tester candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with junior tester candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   Sometimes, it's not enough to interview junior tester candidates, so you can ask them to do a test project. If you are not a technical person and don't know what a test project should be, you can use these websites:

   • TestDome
   • CodeSignal
   • Testlify
   • BarRaiser
   • Coderbyte

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new junior tester

   Once you've selected the best junior tester candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new junior tester. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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