All careersTech

Software QA Analyst / Tester

$102,610
median pay per year
full range coming in the next data update

What the job actually is

Test software to find defects, document issues, and verify fixes before products reach users.

Where you work

Tech offices and remote

The hours

Regular weekday hours, some remote

By the numbers

May 2024–25 BLS wage data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.

Median pay
$102,610
per year
What most earn
range coming soon
Openings a year
~14,000
projected, 2024–34
Outlook to 2034
+10%
Much faster than average
Working in the U.S.
201,700
people, nationwide

Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.

“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.

How you get in

Typical starting education

Bachelor's degree

Training path: Bachelor's degree or bootcamp.

License or certification

No license required to start in most places.

What it takes

Attention to detailTestingCommunicationPersistence

The honest take

A common entry point into software teams for detail-oriented people who like breaking things to find bugs.

Standard Occupational Classification 15-1253. Pay, employment, and outlook from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wage survey and 2024–34 employment projections). See something off? Tell us.