Career Paths From Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers

Possible next moves, computed from skill overlap, O*NET occupational relatedness, preparation level, education, and pay — not a record of people who actually made these moves.

Software DevelopersLateral Move93.2% skill match
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers and Software Developers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Software Developers sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 30% higher.
Current median salary
$104,300
Target median salary
$135,980
Current Job Zone
4
Target Job Zone
4
Computer Systems AnalystsLateral Move88.9% skill match
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers and Computer Systems Analysts share a similar Transferable Skills profile (89% match). Computer Systems Analysts sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move.
Current median salary
$104,300
Target median salary
$105,850
Current Job Zone
4
Target Job Zone
4
Database ArchitectsLateral Move86.3% skill match
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers and Database Architects share a similar Transferable Skills profile (86% match). Database Architects sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 34% higher.
Current median salary
$104,300
Target median salary
$139,500
Current Job Zone
4
Target Job Zone
4
Computer ProgrammersLateral Move87.5% skill match
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers and Computer Programmers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (88% match). Computer Programmers sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 4% lower.
Current median salary
$104,300
Target median salary
$100,390
Current Job Zone
4
Target Job Zone
4
Information Security AnalystsLateral Move82% skill match
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers and Information Security Analysts share a similar Transferable Skills profile (82% match). Information Security Analysts sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 24% higher.
Current median salary
$104,300
Target median salary
$129,180
Current Job Zone
4
Target Job Zone
4
Database AdministratorsLateral Move87.7% skill match
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers and Database Administrators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (88% match). Database Administrators sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move.
Current median salary
$104,300
Target median salary
$104,620
Current Job Zone
4
Target Job Zone
4
Computer Network ArchitectsLateral Move83.3% skill match
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers and Computer Network Architects share a similar Transferable Skills profile (83% match). Computer Network Architects sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 29% higher.
Current median salary
$104,300
Target median salary
$134,050
Current Job Zone
4
Target Job Zone
4
Aerospace EngineersCareer Change89.2% skill match
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers and Aerospace Engineers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (89% match). Aerospace Engineers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 29% higher.
Current median salary
$104,300
Target median salary
$134,960
Current Job Zone
4
Target Job Zone
4
Web DevelopersLateral Move88.7% skill match
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers and Web Developers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (89% match). Web Developers sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Job Zone is lower (3 vs 4). Median salary is about 11% lower.
Current median salary
$104,300
Target median salary
$92,650
Current Job Zone
4
Target Job Zone
3
Medical DosimetristsCareer Change80.7% skill match
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers and Medical Dosimetrists share a similar Transferable Skills profile (81% match). Medical Dosimetrists is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 41% higher.
Current median salary
$104,300
Target median salary
$147,470
Current Job Zone
4
Target Job Zone
4
Bioengineers and Biomedical EngineersCareer Change78.4% skill match
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers and Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (78% match). Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 5% higher.
Current median salary
$104,300
Target median salary
$109,370
Current Job Zone
4
Target Job Zone
4
Chemical EngineersCareer Change78.4% skill match
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers and Chemical Engineers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (78% match). Chemical Engineers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 20% higher.
Current median salary
$104,300
Target median salary
$125,040
Current Job Zone
4
Target Job Zone
4
PhysicistsCareer Change80.5% skill match
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers and Physicists share a similar Transferable Skills profile (81% match). Physicists is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is higher (5 vs 4). Median salary is about 65% higher.
Current median salary
$104,300
Target median salary
$172,250
Current Job Zone
4
Target Job Zone
5
Mechanical DraftersCareer Change86.4% skill match
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers and Mechanical Drafters share a similar Transferable Skills profile (86% match). Mechanical Drafters is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is lower (3 vs 4). Median salary is about 31% lower.
Current median salary
$104,300
Target median salary
$71,550
Current Job Zone
4
Target Job Zone
3
Computer Hardware EngineersLateral Move0% skill match
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers and Computer Hardware Engineers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (0% match). Computer Hardware Engineers sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 55% higher.
Current median salary
$104,300
Target median salary
$161,740
Current Job Zone
4
Target Job Zone
4

Computed from O*NET Transferable Skills, occupational relatedness and Job Zone data, plus BLS wage and projections data. Categories (Advancement / Lateral Move / Career Change) are derived algorithmically, not self-reported career histories.