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What is a quality tester and how to become one
A quality tester is also known as a QA tester, and these individuals can work in a variety of fields, from manufacturing to communications to software development and computer hardware. These professionals work for a quality assurance team in a company or an organization and are responsible for certifying the functionality of products and services before they go to the customer.
Most QA testers work in the software and computer industry and have extensive knowledge of programming languages, software, and develop customized tests and create automation frameworks or other testing tools for QA staff.
No matter the industry, a quality tester works with product and services developers, as well as with marketing and sales units within a company or organization. These professionals typically work in an office environment or on the manufacturing floor and should possess strong analytical, communication, troubleshooting, and computer skills. They are a critical component to ensure that products and services that are shipped to customers function as they should, and during the testing process, they identify inconsistencies, issues and communicate areas for improvement to upper management and development teams.
Depending on the industry, many quality testers have a bachelor's or a certificate in the area in which they work; however, an advanced degree may not be critical if the individual has comparable skills and knowledge. A quality assurance tester can make up to $70,000 per year in the US, and the field is expected to grow 4% by 2018.
Avg. Salary $60,350
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 34.32%
male 65.68%
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
Quality tester career paths
Key steps to become a quality tester
Explore quality tester education requirements
Start to develop specific quality tester skills
Skills Percentages Test Results 6.16% Test Scripts 5.50% QA 5.27% Regression 5.24% Data Integrity 4.99% Complete relevant quality tester training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New quality 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 quality tester based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real quality tester resumes.Research quality tester duties and responsibilities
- Manage departmental inventory and troubleshoot testing, reporting and inventory issues.
- Defect logging and tracking through QC.
- Used Unix commands and utilities to monitor server side activities and performance.
- Create test plans and test procedure templates and guidelines to be used by the QA team.
Prepare your quality tester resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your quality 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 quality 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 quality tester resume templates
Build a professional quality 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 quality tester resume.
Apply for quality tester jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a quality 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 quality tester job
Are you a quality tester?
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Average quality tester salary
The average quality tester salary in the United States is $60,350 per year or $29 per hour. Quality tester salaries range between $35,000 and $101,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do quality testers rate their job?
Quality 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
