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What is a senior software tester and how to become one
What general advice would you give to a senior software tester?
Frank McCown Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Harding University
Avg. Salary $88,967
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 51.42%
male 48.58%
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
Senior software tester career paths
Key steps to become a senior software tester
Explore senior software tester education requirements
Start to develop specific senior software tester skills
Skills Percentages Java 11.60% Test Scripts 5.30% Regression 5.27% Test Results 5.09% QA 4.83% Complete relevant senior software tester training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New senior software 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 senior software tester based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real senior software tester resumes.Research senior software tester duties and responsibilities
- Work in an agile scrum methodology where requirements are broken down to user stories.
- Create test cases and test steps for each user stories assign for testing in JIRA.
- Perform unit and system tests on UNIX platform of CAS.
- Verify that eXLC process is actively utilize throughout the SDLC process.
Get senior software tester experience
Generally, it takes 2-4 years to become a senior software tester. The most common roles before becoming a senior software tester include software tester, quality assurance analyst team lead and software test engineer.Prepare your senior software tester resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your senior software 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 senior software 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 senior software tester resume templates
Build a professional senior software 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 senior software tester resume.
Apply for senior software tester jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a senior software 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 senior software tester job
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Average senior software tester salary
The average senior software tester salary in the United States is $88,967 per year or $43 per hour. Senior software tester salaries range between $68,000 and $115,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do senior software testers rate their job?
Senior software 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
