Is being a test engineer a good job?

Yes, being a test engineer is a good job. A career in software testing is more accessible than you would think. Software development is an attractive option for people who have the technical knowledge required to thrive in their chosen field.

What does a test engineer do?

A test engineer uses testing tools, technical skills, and communication abilities to ensure that all products meet their specifications and quality standards. These professionals are also responsible for quality assurance.

What is the difference between a test engineer and a QA engineer?

A test engineer designs test methods and conducts evaluations, while a QA engineer works closer to the production end of the business. A QA Engineer often works closer to the production end of the business and writes inspection procedures and audits the process on the production floor, rather than being directly involved with the testing.

What makes a good test engineer?

A good test engineer is equipped with the skills they need to work with performance testing tools. The skills associated with the job of a test engineer are quite broad, but a working knowledge of programming languages will provide a solid base on which to build your career.

Where do test engineers work?

Test engineers generally work at technology companies. As a Test Engineer in our company, you will work closely with the production team to understand why we're building a product and what the specific requirements are.

What is a test engineer and how to become one

Q: What is a test engineer?

A test engineer is a person who uses tools, skills, and communication to ensure that products meet certain specifications. A test engineer is also expected to work with teams. Those teams will include software engineers and software developers. They all work together to remove bottlenecks and make a more user-friendly product.

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Andrea Welker Ph.D.

A test engineer ensures that software or hardware products meet quality standards. They work with development teams to identify and resolve issues, design and execute test plans, and analyze and report results. Test engineers use automated tools and manual testing methods to validate product functionality, performance, and reliability. They also collaborate with stakeholders to determine project requirements and establish testing objectives. A successful test engineer possesses strong analytical skills and attention to detail.

What general advice would you give to a test engineer?

Andrea Welker Ph.D.

Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, College of Engineering Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Villanova University

Be open to new experiences. Find a good mentor. Become a valued employee. Always remember that you are designing something for someone.

ScoreTest EngineerUS Average

Salary

6.2

Avg. Salary $79,832

Avg. Salary $59,228

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 18.28%

male 81.72%

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

What are the pros and cons of being a test engineer?

Pros

High demand for test engineers in many industries
Possibility of working remotely or from home
Good salary and benefits packages
Possibility of advancement to management or other roles within the company
Potential for job stability and job security

Cons

Long hours may be required to meet deadlines or resolve issues
Limited creativity as the focus is on finding defects rather than creating new features
May require working with difficult personalities or project stakeholders
Lack of recognition for the importance of testing in the software development process
Some test engineers may feel undervalued or underappreciated by their organization.

Key steps to become a test engineer

Explore test engineer education requirements

Most common test engineer degrees

Bachelor's

71.5 %

Master's

14.0 %

Associate

10.9 %

Start to develop specific test engineer skills

Skills	Percentages
Python	7.46%
C++	5.31%
C #	5.31%
Test Results	5.00%
Java	4.52%

Complete relevant test engineer training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New test engineers 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 test engineer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real test engineer resumes.

Research test engineer duties and responsibilities

Manage design, correction, and modification of the installations monitor in Citect-SCADA software (HMI).
Perform quality assurance tests to Intel processors and communications components using advance testing equipment in UNIX and Linux environments.
Conduct final acceptance testing for DOD security products.
Experience in mobile testing both manual and automation using APPIUM.

Prepare your test engineer resume

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

Choose from 10+ customizable test engineer resume templates

Build a professional test engineer 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 test engineer resume.

Apply for test engineer jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a test engineer 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 do test engineers rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Test engineer reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Nov 2023

Pros

continuous learning

Cons

low scale pay which is not so good for the years of experience

A zippia user wrote a review on Oct 2020

Pros

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.

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.

A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2020

Pros

The Different employees i work with and what all i learn from them

Cons

very little

What is a test engineer and how to become one

What general advice would you give to a test engineer?

What are the pros and cons of being a test engineer?

Test engineer career paths

Key steps to become a test engineer

Explore test engineer education requirements

Most common test engineer degrees

Start to develop specific test engineer skills

Complete relevant test engineer training and internships

Research test engineer duties and responsibilities

Prepare your test engineer resume

Choose from 10+ customizable test engineer resume templates

Apply for test engineer jobs

How did you land your first test engineer job

Average test engineer salary

How do test engineers rate their job?

Test engineer reviews

Test engineer FAQs

Is being a test engineer a good job?

What does a test engineer do?