Post job

What is a quality assurance developer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted experts
Brian Glas,
Kevin Treu Ph.D.

If software glitches and app malfunctions bug you, you can put your irks to use as a quality assurance developer.

Quality assurance (QA) developers are involved in testing a product at every step of its creation process. While writing scripts that serve as automated software tests, they're expected to be familiar with the target products' development and release stages.

By evaluating and cross-checking a client's needs with the product's functionality, quality assurance developers design and execute test cases to ensure that the software is up to par. They diagnose issues, offer debugs, and report issues to others involved in the development process -- with the end goal of delivering a fully-operational product before the client's deadline.

This intensive position requires strong critical-thinking and problem-solving skills, but its average annual salary of $89,000 makes it well worth the effort. To become a quality assurance developer, most companies require a bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, or a related field, on top of several years' experience in development.

What general advice would you give to a quality assurance developer?

Brian GlasBrian Glas LinkedIn profile

Assistant Professor of Computer Science, Union University

Build relationships: Different technologies will interest and challenge you, but throughout your career, you'll find that it's the relationships that are the most important. This is harder to grasp earlier in your career, but much easier to understand after 15-20 years.
Gain different perspectives: Spend time with people in other roles that your job interacts with, and gain a solid understanding of how they view things; this is most valuable for career progression and understanding of how your work fits into the big picture.
ScoreQuality Assurance DeveloperUS Average
Salary
7.1

Avg. Salary $91,359

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
5.1

Growth rate 21%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
4.1
Race

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%

Gender

female 30.67%

male 69.33%

Age - 43
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 43
Stress level
5.1

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
6.1

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance
6.0

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Quality assurance developer career paths

Key steps to become a quality assurance developer

  1. Explore quality assurance developer education requirements

    Most common quality assurance developer degrees

    Bachelor's

    67.8 %

    Master's

    15.5 %

    Associate

    10.2 %
  2. Start to develop specific quality assurance developer skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Python12.52%
    QA11.36%
    Java6.86%
    QC5.66%
    Test Cases4.57%
  3. Complete relevant quality assurance developer training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New quality assurance developers 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 quality assurance developer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real quality assurance developer resumes.
  4. Research quality assurance developer duties and responsibilities

    • Manage the project through all phases of SDLC.
    • Provide overarching strategic recommendations for productivity improvements and achieve QMS - ISO certification.
    • Involve in code analysis and developing API.
    • Ensure the team follows all scrum rituals religiously.
  5. Prepare your quality assurance developer resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your quality assurance developer 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 quality assurance developer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable quality assurance developer resume templates

    Build a professional quality assurance developer 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 quality assurance developer resume.
    Quality Assurance Developer Resume
    Quality Assurance Developer Resume
    Quality Assurance Developer Resume
    Quality Assurance Developer Resume
    Quality Assurance Developer Resume
    Quality Assurance Developer Resume
    Quality Assurance Developer Resume
    Quality Assurance Developer Resume
    Quality Assurance Developer Resume
  6. Apply for quality assurance developer jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a quality assurance developer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first quality assurance developer job

Zippi

Are you a quality assurance developer?

Share your story for a free salary report.

Average quality assurance developer salary

The average quality assurance developer salary in the United States is $91,359 per year or $44 per hour. Quality assurance developer salaries range between $68,000 and $121,000 per year.

Average quality assurance developer salary
$91,359 Yearly
$43.92 hourly

What am I worth?

salary-calculator

How do quality assurance developers rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Quality assurance developer reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Oct 2020
Cons

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.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2020
Pros

Working with technology.

Cons

Automated testing is more in demand than manual testing.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2019
Pros

New field to work with compassion.

Cons

Low pay structure as compared to the efforts put in.


Working as a quality assurance developer? Share your experience anonymously.
Overall rating*
Career growth
Work/Life balance
Pay/Salary

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Browse computer and mathematical jobs