QA Testing

Last updated March 17, 2025

What Is QA Testing?

Quality Assurance (QA) Testing ensures that software or services meet quality standards before release. QA Testers identify bugs, errors, and inconsistencies using functional, usability, performance, and regression testing to deliver a seamless user experience. By catching and resolving issues early, QA testing reduces production costs, enhances customer satisfaction, and protects a company’s reputation. No company wants to release a product that is full of problems, so QA testing is vital to the tech industry because it’s proactive: by identifying and correcting problems beforehand, it eliminates the need to fix them later, supports client/user satisfaction, and reinforces a company’s reputation for producing high-quality products and services.

QA testing has evolved significantly since the first computers were developed (think back to the 1950's)! Early computer testing focused on hardware, but as software complexity grew, so did the need for structured testing. One of the first methods of testing software was the “waterfall” approach, which involved a linear approach, in which the software was only tested after it was finished being developed. But in the 1980s, the need for more involved testing grew, leading to “agile” and “extreme programming (XP)” methods, which tested the software throughout the development process. Today, Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) allows for rapid testing and software releases.  Companies need QA Testers to reduce production costs, improve efficiency and customer satisfaction, minimize risks, and keep the company competitive in an ever-changing marketplace.

The need for QA Testers has never been higher. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of jobs is expected to grow by 17 percent over the next decade, with approximately 140,100 job openings each year. QA Testers are in demand because of the increasing complexity of software programs and the need for a smooth user experience. An in-demand QA tester has strong analytical skills, attention to detail, is both a good critical and creative thinker, and can adapt to new and changing technology.

What Does a QA Tester Do?

QA Testers ensure software functions as intended by collaborating with developers, creating test strategies, executing tests (manual or automated), and documenting bugs. Manual QA involves hands-on testing from a user’s perspective, while automated QA uses scripts to run repetitive tests efficiently.

• Manual QA: Manual QA testers interact with the software the way an end-user would, which makes for a more intuitive approach to testing. More flexible, lower upfront cost, but time-consuming and prone to human error.

• Automated QA: Requires coding skills but allows for faster, repetitive testing with reduced human error.

Must-Have QA Testing Skills

QA Testers need a wide range of skills, including a range of programming knowledge, agile testing, testing techniques such as functional, UI, and regression, and a thorough understanding of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC). However, since they also collaborate with the software developers as well as designers and product managers, QA Testers should also have a broad base of “soft skills” as well.

Hard skills for QA Testers: 

• While coding is not required in manual QA testing, having an understanding of Python and/or JavaScript will boost a manual QA tester’s hireability. Automated QA testers should know how to code in Python, JavaScript, C# and/or Java.

• Test automation tools, like Selenium, JIRA, and TestRail

• Knowledge of testing methodologies such as Agile, V-model, and Waterfall

• Database management and SQL

• Security testing principles

• Bug-tracking programs like Asana, Mantis Bug Tracker, Marker.io, BugHerd, and Stryka

Soft skills in QA Testing:

• Critical thinking

• Attention to detail

• Communication skills

• Problem-solving

• Flexibility

• Collaboration skills

• Time management

Do you need to know how to code to get into QA testing?

Coding is not required in manual QA testing, especially for entry-level positions, but might be helpful to learn as it will assist with communication with software engineers. To be a successful QA Tester as a career, however, you should have a basic understanding of code, but you don’t have to know how to write the code itself. If you’re interested in QA automation, you will need to learn how to code so you can write automated test scripts with tools such as Selenium.

Job Market and Salary Insights

The job market for QA Testers is promising. QA Testers are in high demand, with a projected 17% job growth from 2023-2033. The median salary in 2023 was $101,800, though factors like location, experience, and certifications (e.g., CQA, CSQA) impact earnings. Here are some of the most frequent QA Tester job titles for bootcamp graduates:

• Quality Assurance Analyst

• Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET)

• QA Tester

• Software Test Analyst

• QA Engineer

• Test Engineer I

• Project Manager

Keep in mind that your salary as a QA Tester will vary based on your location (tech hubs such as San Jose, New York, or Chicago tend to offer higher salaries), experience, education, and skillset (manual vs. automated, or scripting languages). The size of the company you work for will also be a factor, with larger companies paying more than smaller firms. Earning certifications, such as Certified Quality Auditor (CQA)  or Certified Software Quality Analyst (CSQA) can make a difference in your salary as well. 

FAQs about the QA Engineer Career