How to hire a test analyst

How to hire a test analyst, step by step

Here's a step-by-step test analyst hiring guide:

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

What does a test analyst do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a test analyst, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   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 test analyst 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.

   The following list breaks down different types of test analysts and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Test Analyst	Description	Hourly rate
   Test Analyst		$26-42
   Systems Tester	A systems tester is an information technology expert who specializes in developing test structures to identify the strengths and weaknesses of systems and software. They primarily work to identify and eliminate bugs to ensure quality and client satisfaction... Show more	$35-59
   Business Analyst/Quality Analyst	A business analyst/quality analyst is responsible for evaluating business outputs and operational processes to ensure that everything adheres to the quality standards and business regulations. Business analysts/quality analysts support senior management in determining solutions to improve the company's services and provide the highest satisfaction for the customers and clients... Show more	$27-46

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Test Scripts
   • Test Plan
   • Regression
   • Test Results
   • Java
   • Manual Test Cases
   • Test Data
   • QA
   • Status Reports
   • Test Scenarios
   • Selenium Webdriver
   • Jira
   • Test Execution
   • UAT

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Implement reusable test strategy to rewire QA methodology and achieve increase in efficiency.
   • Execute end to end regression testing which include executing multiple processes in UNIX, running automate test scripts and performing validation.
   • Organize daily meetings with QA team and Dev team to recognize the blocking issues within the project.
   • Test the stored procedures functionality vs. ETL mapping after the migration of code from PL/SQL to ETL mappings.
   • Report bugs to developers using JIRA and after rectification from developers perform regression testing.
   • Document and champion defects in QC ALM.

   More test analyst duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, test analysts' average salary in mississippi is 25% less than in new hampshire.
   • Seniority. Entry-level test analysts earn 36% less than senior-level test analysts.
   • Certifications. A test analyst 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 test analyst's salary.

   Average test analyst salary

   $70,997yearly

   $34.13 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level test analyst salary

   $56,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

   Average test analyst salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$82,566	$40
   2	Washington	$81,274	$39
   3	New Jersey	$77,408	$37
   4	New York	$74,972	$36
   5	Delaware	$73,784	$35
   6	Connecticut	$73,199	$35
   7	Oregon	$72,995	$35
   8	Virginia	$72,056	$35
   9	Illinois	$71,839	$35
   10	Minnesota	$70,929	$34
   11	Rhode Island	$70,790	$34
   12	North Carolina	$70,053	$34
   13	Pennsylvania	$70,052	$34
   14	Wisconsin	$69,823	$34
   15	Georgia	$69,106	$33
   16	Arizona	$69,003	$33
   17	Ohio	$68,951	$33
   18	Texas	$68,939	$33
   19	Indiana	$68,295	$33
   20	Arkansas	$66,371	$32

   Average test analyst salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	General Motors	$95,382	$45.86	24
   2	JPMorgan Chase & Co.	$91,057	$43.78	87
   3	Safeway	$90,383	$43.45
   4	Barclays	$89,748	$43.15	1
   5	Citi	$88,397	$42.50	49
   6	Highmark	$86,967	$41.81	258
   7	Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc.	$85,834	$41.27
   8	Adobe	$84,518	$40.63	6
   9	BMO Capital Markets	$84,417	$40.59	4
   10	Xandr	$84,036	$40.40
   11	Costco Wholesale	$81,990	$39.42	4
   12	Visa	$81,961	$39.40	24
   13	MUFG EMEA	$81,759	$39.31
   14	TD Bank	$81,608	$39.23	38
   15	Grandstream Networks	$80,988	$38.94
   16	Stripe	$80,973	$38.93	3
   17	Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan	$80,304	$38.61	4
   18	Cerner	$80,104	$38.51
   19	Cottage Health	$79,790	$38.36	3
   20	Anaplan	$79,535	$38.24

4. Writing a test analyst job description

   A test analyst 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. Below, you can find an example of a test analyst job description:

   Test analyst job description example

   The concept of "Blizzard polish," that is, the infinite care and loving detail put into every aspect of our games, is something we take seriously and pride ourselves on delivering to our players. It's a responsibility shared across the company - and its undisputed heart and soul is Blizzard Entertainment Quality Assurance (QA). We're searching for like-minded folks with a passion for QA to help us continue to deliver unforgettable gaming experiences for years to come.
   
   Blizzard QA is a close-knit team; we care about iteration, problem-solving, and succeeding as a group. We genuinely love what we do for a living and expect the same from everyone who joins us! If your career is ready for its next great challenge, get in touch and let's get to work!
   Covid-19 Hiring: We are currently working under a temporary work-from-home model and are continuing to interview and hire during this time. This role is expected to begin as a remote position but will later be assigned to work full-time at a physical location on-site.
   
   Responsibilities
   Utilize advanced testing methodologies to deliver test design, test execution, test library maintenance, and test closure strategies Analyze & monitor the software development processes and methods used to ensure quality Ensure requirements and risks are continually either mitigated or accepted throughout the SDLC Enhance live operations and deployment stability, across both internal and production environments Research, recommend and adopt tools as needed with the goal of increasing test coverage through automation Propose and influence new measures and KPIs to validate and report on software quality Coach others as they develop appropriate knowledge and skills through training, constructive feedback, and mentorship Approach software development from a Grey-box perspective; utilizing established developer toolsets to build custom test scenarios Represent Blizzard through public-facing quality assurance activities Responsible for adhering to department SLAs within project management (i.e. JIRA) and test related tools (i.e. TestRail) Advocate of the user experience through delivery of qualitative reporting Other duties as assigned
   Requirements
   A minimum of 3 years' experience in software testing Be an expert in one or more software testing methodologies Practical knowledge of relational databases such as Oracle, MySQL, & SQLServer Proven ability to analyze, interpret, and action on data sets and complex workflows Passion for games and software quality
   Pluses
   White box testing experience Coding knowledge: XML/HTML, JavaScript, Python, Java, C/C++/C#, or SQL Experience with game engines, content and asset editors, and shared technologies High-level of gaming knowledge and/or skill Passion for Blizzard's line of products and services
   Blizzard Entertainment is a global company committed to growing our employees. We offer generous benefits and perks with an eye on providing true work / life balance. We've worked hard to champion an intensely collaborative and creative environment, a diverse and inclusive employee culture, and training and opportunity for professional growth. Our people are everything. Our core values are real, and our mission has never changed.
   
   We love hearing from anyone who is enthusiastic about changing the games industry. Not sure you meet all qualifications? Let us decide! Research shows that women and members of other under-represented groups tend to not apply to jobs when they think they may not meet every qualification, when, in fact, they often do! At Activision Blizzard, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and strongly encourage you to apply.
   
   We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We are dedicated to creating the most epic entertainment experiences...ever. Join us!

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right test analyst for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   To find test analyst candidates, you can consider the following options:

   • Post your job opening on Zippia or other job search websites.
   • Use niche websites that focus on engineering and technology jobs, such as dice, engineering.com, stack overflow, it job pro.
   • Post your job on free job posting websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting test analysts requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   If your interviews with test analyst applicants aren't enough to make a decision, you should also consider including a test project. These are often the best, most straightforward, and least bias-prone ways of determining who will likely succeed in the role. If you don't know how to design an appropriate test, you can ask someone else on the team to create it or take a look at these websites to get a few ideas:

   • 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 test analyst

   Once you have selected a candidate for the test analyst position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize 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 test analyst. 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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