QA Tester job description: duties, skills and qualifications.

Core duties

16

O*NET task statements

Preparation

Job Zone 4 of 5

considerable preparation

Typical entry education

Bachelor's degree

BLS 2025–35

Median pay

$104,300

BLS May 2025

Data Government data groups this job as Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers (O*NET-SOC 15-1253.00). Figures on this page are for that occupation.

1. Identify, analyze, and document problems with program function, output, online screen, or content. importance 4.7 of 5
2. Document software defects, using a bug tracking system, and report defects to software developers. importance 4.7 of 5
3. Develop testing programs that address areas such as database impacts, software scenarios, regression testing, negative testing, error or bug retests, or usability. importance 4.5 of 5
4. Design test plans, scenarios, scripts, or procedures. importance 4.3 of 5
5. Document test procedures to ensure replicability and compliance with standards. importance 4.3 of 5
6. Provide feedback and recommendations to developers on software usability and functionality. importance 4.3 of 5
7. Install, maintain, or use software testing programs. importance 4.3 of 5
8. Test system modifications to prepare for implementation. importance 4.2 of 5
9. Create or maintain databases of known test defects. importance 4.2 of 5
10. Develop or specify standards, methods, or procedures to determine product quality or release readiness. importance 4.1 of 5
11. Monitor bug resolution efforts and track successes. importance 4.1 of 5
12. Update automated test scripts to ensure currency. importance 4.1 of 5
13. Participate in product design reviews to provide input on functional requirements, product designs, schedules, or potential problems. importance 4.0 of 5
14. Plan test schedules or strategies in accordance with project scope or delivery dates. importance 4.0 of 5
15. Monitor program performance to ensure efficient and problem-free operations. importance 4.0 of 5
16. Conduct software compatibility tests with programs, hardware, operating systems, or network environments. importance 3.9 of 5

Work activities O*NET rates most important here: Working with Computers, Getting Information, Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates, Processing Information and Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge.

Also part of the job

Supplemental tasks O*NET lists for this occupation: less central than the core duties above, and not done in every job.

• Modify existing software to correct errors, allow it to adapt to new hardware, or to improve its performance.
• Recommend purchase of equipment to control dust, temperature, or humidity in area of system installation.
• Store, retrieve, and manipulate data for analysis of system capabilities and requirements.

Knowledge areas: Computers and Electronics, English Language, Mathematics, Engineering and Technology and Design.

Software O*NET lists for this occupation: Git, GitHub, Jenkins CI, Selenium, Amazon Web Services AWS software, Atlassian JIRA. These are examples O*NET records for the job, not a list of tools every employer uses or a checklist of what you must know.

• Education: BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education.
• Experience: BLS lists no work experience in a related occupation as typical to enter.
• Training on the job: BLS lists no typical on-the-job training once hired.
• Preparation: O*NET places the job in Job Zone 4 of 5 (considerable preparation). A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations.
• Licenses and certifications: not listed here. A license is a legal requirement set by a state; a certification is a credential from a private or professional body. Rules vary by state and employer, and a missing entry on this page does not mean none is required: check with your state's licensing board and see how to become a QA tester.

The most common answer among O*NET's occupation experts for this occupation is a bachelor's degree (50%).

Job title: QA Tester
[Company] · [City, State] · [Full-time or part-time] · [Pay range, where your state requires one]

About the role
[Company] is hiring a QA Tester to develop and execute software tests to identify software problems and their causes.
[One sentence on your team and why this role matters.]

What you will do
- Identify, analyze, and document problems with program function, output, online screen, or content.
- Document software defects, using a bug tracking system, and report defects to software developers.
- Develop testing programs that address areas such as database impacts, software scenarios, regression testing, negative testing, error or bug retests, or usability.
- Design test plans, scenarios, scripts, or procedures.
- Document test procedures to ensure replicability and compliance with standards.
- Provide feedback and recommendations to developers on software usability and functionality.
- Install, maintain, or use software testing programs.
- Test system modifications to prepare for implementation.

What we are looking for
- [Education: BLS lists a bachelor's degree as typical for this occupation; set the level this role truly needs]
- [Experience: BLS lists no related work experience as typical to enter; set what this role needs]
- Strength in reading comprehension, active listening and speaking
- Working knowledge of Computers and Electronics and English Language
- [Software your team uses, e.g. Git or GitHub]
- [Any license or certification your state or company requires]

[Schedule, benefits and how to apply]

Illustrative: every name, employer, school, date and number in these samples is fictional or a bracketed placeholder. Replace each bracket with your own true details; never copy a result you did not achieve.

Not a real job posting. This template is TryHired's illustration built from government occupational data. It is not an opening at any employer, and no employer wrote it.

The median annual wage was $104,300 in May 2025. The median hourly wage was $50.14. BLS estimates about 186,740 jobs in this occupation in the U.S.

BLS projects employment of Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers to grow 5.7% from 2025 to 2035, with about 10,700 openings a year over that period, including openings to replace workers who leave.

See the full QA tester salary breakdown by percentile, state and metro.

• Read a real QA tester posting next to the core duties above. Duties it repeats, such as “Identify, analyze, and document problems with program function…”, tell you what that employer weighs most; anything it adds is specific to that team.
• Tailor your resume to the posting, not to this page: describe only QA tester work you have actually done, with your own results.
• Prepare a story for each of the top-rated skills (reading comprehension and active listening); QA tester interview questions turns them into practice questions.