# Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers

> 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/software-quality-assurance-analysts-and-testers
- SOC code: 15-1253.00
- Career family: Computers and math
- Median annual pay: $104,300 (10th percentile $61,440, 90th percentile $167,010)
- Projected growth: Faster than average, +5.7%
- Openings a year: 10,700
- Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code ICR)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 47 |
| Investigative (I) | 79 |
| Artistic (A) | 12 |
| Social (S) | 9 |
| Enterprising (E) | 10 |
| Conventional (C) | 78 |

## What you'd do

- Working with Computers (importance 99/100)
- Getting Information (importance 91/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 86/100)
- Processing Information (importance 85/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 84/100)
- Analyzing Data or Information (importance 82/100)
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 81/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 81/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 77/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 77/100)

## Skills

Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Speaking, Writing, Monitoring, Programming, Complex Problem Solving, Quality Control Analysis, Systems Evaluation

## Knowledge

Computers and Electronics, English Language, Mathematics, Engineering and Technology, Design, Education and Training, Customer and Personal Service, Administration and Management, Administrative, Telecommunications

## Also called

Application Integrator, Applications Analyst, Applications Quality Assurance Specialist (Applications QA Specialist), Applications Software Engineering Information Technology Specialist (Applications Software Engineering IT Specialist), Applications System Analyst, Applications Tester, Automation Specialist, Automation Tester, Beta Tester, Bug Bounty Hunter

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Computer and Information Sciences, General](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1101) (CIP 1101, 1,547 colleges)
- [Computer Science](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1107) (CIP 1107, 1,070 colleges)
- [Computer Programming](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1102) (CIP 1102, 608 colleges)
- [Computer Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1409) (CIP 1409, 417 colleges)
- [Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1512) (CIP 1512, 229 colleges)
- [Computer Systems Analysis](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1105) (CIP 1105, 124 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Carnegie Mellon University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/carnegie-mellon-university-406) | Computer Science | $173,492 | $268,121 | $19,000 |
| [University of Pennsylvania UPENN](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-pennsylvania-upenn-3009) | Computer and Information Sciences, General | $143,850 | $241,380 | $11,000 |
| [University of California-Los Angeles UCLA](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-california-los-angeles-ucla-2884) | Computer Engineering | $137,925 | $228,705 | $17,731 |
| [Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT](https://www.collegesref.com/college/massachusetts-institute-of-technology-mit-1615) | Computer Science | $171,815 | $225,141 | $10,000 |
| [Cornell University-New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cornell-university-new-york-710) | Computer Science | $151,551 | $223,309 | $12,500 |
| [Princeton University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/princeton-university-2154) | Computer Science | $155,162 | $217,973 | not reported |
| [Pomona College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/pomona-college-2139) | Computer Science | $100,072 | $217,051 | not reported |
| [Stanford University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/stanford-university-2589) | Computer Science | $157,763 | $214,907 | $12,000 |

## Related careers

- [Software Developers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/software-developers): $135,980 median pay
- [Validation Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/validation-engineers): $102,440 median pay
- [Computer Systems Engineers/Architects](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/computer-systems-engineers-architects): $116,580 median pay
- [Penetration Testers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/penetration-testers): $116,580 median pay
- [Computer Systems Analysts](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/computer-systems-analysts): $105,850 median pay
- [Database Architects](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/database-architects): $139,500 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.