Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers

What Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers Do

Develop and execute software tests to identify software problems and their causes. Test system modifications to prepare for implementation. Document software and application defects using a bug tracking system and report defects to software or web developers. Create and maintain databases of known defects. May participate in software design reviews to provide input on functional requirements, operational characteristics, product designs, and schedules.

Career Outlook

National employment outlook, 2024–2034.

Related work experience

None

On-the-job training

None

Self-employed

0.1%

Source: BLS Employment Projections — 2024-2034.

Key Knowledge Areas

Subject-matter areas this occupation draws on most, per O*NET.

• Computers and Electronicsimportance 4.4/5
• English Languageimportance 3.8/5
• Mathematicsimportance 3.3/5
• Engineering and Technologyimportance 3.3/5
• Designimportance 3.0/5
• Education and Trainingimportance 2.9/5
• Customer and Personal Serviceimportance 2.7/5
• Administration and Managementimportance 2.5/5

Work Environment

What the day-to-day work setting is like, per O*NET.

• E-Mail5.0/5
• Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams4.7/5
• Spend Time Sitting4.7/5
• Importance of Being Exact or Accurate4.4/5
• Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team4.4/5
• Indoors, Environmentally Controlled4.1/5

Related Careers

• Software Developers
• Industrial Engineers
• Computer Occupations, All Other
• Computer Systems Analysts
• Database Architects
• Computer Programmers
• Computer Hardware Engineers
• Database Administrators

Careers With Similar Skills

Occupations whose Transferable Skills profile most closely matches this one — a mathematical comparison, not observed data about people actually moving between these careers.

• Software Developers93% skill match
• Aerospace Engineers89% skill match
• Computer Systems Analysts89% skill match
• Web Developers89% skill match
• Database Administrators88% skill match
• Computer Programmers88% skill match
• Mechanical Drafters86% skill match
• Database Architects86% skill match

Transferable Skills

Cross-functional skills this occupation draws on most, per O*NET — the kind that carry over to other careers.

• Programmingimportance 3.6/5
• Complex Problem Solvingimportance 3.4/5
• Quality Control Analysisimportance 3.4/5
• Systems Evaluationimportance 3.3/5
• Operations Analysisimportance 3.1/5
• Judgment and Decision Makingimportance 3.1/5
• Systems Analysisimportance 3.1/5
• Coordinationimportance 3.0/5

Software & Technologies

Tools and software used in this occupation, per O*NET.

Work Style

Personal work characteristics that matter most for this occupation, per O*NET.

• Attention to Detail
• Dependability
• Cautiousness
• Intellectual Curiosity
• Achievement Orientation
• Perseverance
• Integrity

Career Interests

This occupation’s RIASEC interest profile, per O*NET — how strongly it fits each of the six Holland interest types.

• InvestigativeHigh
• ConventionalHigh
• RealisticMedium
• ArtisticLow
• EnterprisingLow
• SocialLow

Where This Career Is Most Concentrated

Metro areas where software quality assurance analysts and testers make up the largest share of local employment, relative to the national average (BLS location quotient).

1. 1San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA4.76× national avg
2. 2Lexington Park, MD4.73× national avg
3. 3Madison, WI2.99× national avg
4. 4Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA2.69× national avg
5. 5Huntsville, AL2.66× national avg

Related Education Programs

Schools that offer related fields of study, based on the NCES CIP-SOC crosswalk — not a guarantee that graduates enter this specific career.