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What is a manual tester and how to become one
As a manual tester, you have a major role to play in software development. You will often work with the development team to fix bugs and prevent software issues. You should be able to defect tracking, analyze and execute test cases, and you will carry out manual tests to ensure the success of the software. Your responsibilities are to test cases for testing processes, suggest documents to improve software quality, work with the development team to correct bugs and errors, design test plans and procedures, and communicate with the test manager.
You must have a degree in computer science, engineering, or related fields to work as a manual tester. You must also have a strong working knowledge of software code and have a good working knowledge of test management software and programming languages. Apart from this, you should be able to work with a team and possess critical thinking skills. The average annual salary of a manual tester is $78,566.
Avg. Salary $81,680
Avg. Salary $59,228
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.51%
Asian 11.99%
Black or African American 6.24%
Hispanic or Latino 8.82%
Unknown 4.70%
White 67.73%
Genderfemale 49.83%
male 50.17%
Age - 43American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 43Stress level is manageable
7.1 - high
Complexity level is intermediate
7 - challenging
Work life balance is fair
6.4 - fair
Manual tester career paths
Key steps to become a manual tester
Explore manual tester education requirements
Start to develop specific manual tester skills
Skills Percentages Manual Test Cases 6.22% Regression 5.20% QA 4.62% Test Scripts 4.08% Jira 3.61% Complete relevant manual tester training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New manual testers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a manual tester based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real manual tester resumes.Research manual tester duties and responsibilities
- Used JIRA to manage testing and track test results for each build and report defects detect.
- Manage departmental inventory and troubleshoot testing, reporting and inventory issues.
- Assign the tasks of conducting regression testing, UAT testing and update testing reports to the manager.
- Contribute in developing website by using HTML coding.
Prepare your manual tester resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your manual tester resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a manual tester resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable manual tester resume templates
Build a professional manual tester resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your manual tester resume.
Apply for manual tester jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a manual tester job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first manual tester job
Are you a manual tester?
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Average manual tester salary
The average manual tester salary in the United States is $81,680 per year or $39 per hour. Manual tester salaries range between $63,000 and $105,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do manual testers rate their job?
Manual tester reviews
I like testing because it can be interesting. Things can change but also stay the same. I like routine but not repetition doing the same thing. Testing isn't the best job but a good job.
Some things you test can be really picky to pass. It's likely they will always fail the first time. Some test seem to always pass and seek insufficient. I always look at productivity but also efficiency. So if not necessary by customer and always passes I can't see why a part of the test he removed especially if another part of the test will fail if it does. Options I am always open to.
Working with technology.
Automated testing is more in demand than manual testing.
New field to work with compassion.
Low pay structure as compared to the efforts put in.
Updated January 8, 2025
