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.
Most important skills
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Writing
- Monitoring
- Programming
- Complex Problem Solving
Key knowledge
- Computers and Electronics
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Engineering and Technology
- Design
- Education and Training
- Customer and Personal Service
- Administration and Management
What the work involves
- 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.
- Design test plans, scenarios, scripts, or procedures.
- Test system modifications to prepare for implementation.
- Develop testing programs that address areas such as database impacts, software scenarios, regression testing, negative testing, error or bug retests, or usability.
- Document software defects, using a bug tracking system, and report defects to software developers.
- Identify, analyze, and document problems with program function, output, online screen, or content.
Strongest interest areas (O*NET): Investigative, Conventional, Realistic.
Qualifications and licensing
- Most common education
- Bachelor's Degree (50% of respondents)
- Related experience
- Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year (29.4%)
- On-the-job training
- Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year (23.5%)
- Preparation level
- O*NET job zone 4: Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Licensing
- Not yet verified. Check your state licensing board.
Check before planning
- Licensing for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers is not yet verified for any state: check the state licensing board before planning.
Limits
- Distributions show what current workers or occupational experts report, not legal minimums.
- Requirements vary by employer and state; time to qualify is not estimated.
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0); BLS Employment Projections · dataset 2026.10.8 · method e3-qualification-1.0.0
Work environment
How the typical conditions of this occupation compare with 911 occupations in O*NET (very low = the lowest fifth).
Levels are relative. Most occupations involve a lot of contact with people, for example, so “very low” can still mean regular contact; the last column shows what workers actually reported.
| Condition | Level | Compared with other occupations | Most common answer (O*NET survey) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contact with others | Low | Lower on contact with others than 76% of occupations compared | 47% of surveyed respondents chose “Contact with others most of the time” |
| Dealing with the public | Very low | Lower on dealing with the public than 91% of occupations compared | 39% of surveyed respondents chose “Fairly important” |
| Teamwork | High | Higher on teamwork than 63% of occupations compared | 58% of surveyed respondents chose “Extremely important” |
| Freedom to make decisions | Moderate | Lower on freedom to make decisions than 51% of occupations compared | 65% of surveyed respondents chose “Some freedom” |
| Time pressure | Moderate | Higher on time pressure than 51% of occupations compared | 41% of surveyed respondents chose “Once a week or more but not every day” |
| Conflict situations | High | Higher on conflict situations than 63% of occupations compared | 41% of surveyed respondents chose “Once a month or more but not every week” |
| Dealing with unpleasant or angry people | Low | Lower on dealing with unpleasant or angry people than 73% of occupations compared | 45% of surveyed respondents chose “Once a year or more but not every month” |
| Consequence of error | Moderate | Lower on consequence of error than 60% of occupations compared | 30% of surveyed respondents chose “Serious” |
Work-pressure profile
- Time pressure: moderate
- Conflict situations: high
- Dealing with unpleasant or angry people: low
- Consequence of error: moderate
Each part is shown on its own. There is no combined stress score, and conditions vary by employer and role.
Full answer distributions
Contact with others
- No contact with others: 0%
- Occasional contact with others: 5.88%
- Contact with others about half the time: 17.65%
- Contact with others most of the time: 47.06%
- Constant contact with others: 29.41%
n = 34, Occupational Expert 08/2022
Dealing with the public
- Not important at all: 30.3%
- Fairly important: 39.39%
- Important: 21.21%
- Very important: 6.06%
- Extremely important: 3.03%
n = 33, Occupational Expert 08/2022
Teamwork
- Not important at all: 0%
- Fairly important: 0%
- Important: 15.15%
- Very important: 27.27%
- Extremely important: 57.58%
n = 33, Occupational Expert 08/2022
Freedom to make decisions
- No freedom: 0%
- Very little freedom: 0%
- Limited freedom: 11.76%
- Some freedom: 64.71%
- A lot of freedom: 23.53%
n = 34, Occupational Expert 08/2022
Time pressure
- Never: 0%
- Once a year or more but not every month: 0%
- Once a month or more but not every week: 35.29%
- Once a week or more but not every day: 41.18%
- Every day: 23.53%
n = 34, Occupational Expert 08/2022
Conflict situations
- Never: 2.94%
- Once a year or more but not every month: 26.47%
- Once a month or more but not every week: 41.18%
- Once a week or more but not every day: 23.53%
- Every day: 5.88%
n = 34, Occupational Expert 08/2022
Dealing with unpleasant or angry people
- Never: 12.12%
- Once a year or more but not every month: 45.45%
- Once a month or more but not every week: 36.36%
- Once a week or more but not every day: 3.03%
- Every day: 3.03%
n = 33, Occupational Expert 08/2022
Consequence of error
- Not serious at all: 18.18%
- Fairly serious: 24.24%
- Serious: 30.3%
- Very serious: 15.15%
- Extremely serious: 12.12%
n = 33, Occupational Expert 08/2022
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O*NET-SOC 15-1253.00 · SOC 15-1253 (exact, high confidence) · dataset 2026.10.8