Chicago Qa Engineer Jobs Overview
In the tech world, QA stands for “quality assurance,” a specialization of software engineering that encompasses a few different roles. But the main objective of QA engineer jobs is to prevent defects. That means designing and implementing tests; creating guides for corrective tasks and documenting any testing; debugging and tracking QA metrics; and communicating with the rest of the developer team. Basically, QA engineers try everything possible to ensure any software issues are not seen by customers.
The job outlook for this career is highly optimistic too, as the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is projecting an employment growth rate of 22% for software developers, quality assurance analysts, and testers over the next decade—much faster than the average for all occupations. That should translate to about 189,200 openings each year. This surge can be attributed to the likely increase of software usage in various products and industries, from health insurance carriers to cryptocurrency and cybersecurity applications. Most companies are thus intent on staying on top of their software game, and they need QA engineers to do so.
You can expand your search for engineering jobs by checking out these similar positions:
About Working in Chicago, Illinois
If you're going to Chicago to experience "da Bears," deep-dish pizza, and windy streets, native Chicagoans say "fogetta 'bout it!" While these have made Chicago famous, you'll find many locals eating thin-crust, tavern-style pie. Plus, the city isn't on any list of the windiest cities in the U.S.—a local newspaper named it "The Windy City" after the Chicago elite's propensity toward boastfulness and self-promotion. And while the Chicago jobs list (hit jobs, that is) includes notorious mobsters from Chicago like Al Capone, John Dillinger, and Baby Face Nelson, linguists are noticing that the "Chicago accent" is disappearing.
However, there's a reason Condé Nast Traveler has named Chicago the "best big city in the U.S." Chicago is home to top universities, including Northwestern University, Wheaton College, and Valparaiso. And if you're looking for Chicago jobs, you can relocate to any one of the city's unique neighborhoods, such as North Center with its cozy Irish pubs and breweries or Uptown, the lively entertainment district. For those who want to live further out from the city, you can also find jobs in popular suburbs including Cicero, Oak Park, and Evanston.
Update Your Chicago Qa Engineer Resume
Even if there’s a robust need for QA engineers, the competition within this field can be rather fierce. Your resume should make you stand out and be tailored to QA engineer jobs—and Monster can guide you here. Be as specific as possible and include any previous testing experience (such as exploratory testing, integration testing, performance testing, functional testing, alpha testing, beta testing, and the like). If you’re applying to cybersecurity firms, show that you have knowledge of both white-box and black-box testing, if applicable. And then review our entry-level QA software tester and experienced QA software tester resume samples.
A persuasive cover letter can give your application more prominence, so check out these cover letter examples and our expert writing tips too.
How Much Do Qa Engineer Jobs Pay in Chicago, Illinois?
Got money on your mind? You should! Make sure you’re getting paid what you’re worth. Our Salary Tools can help you understand what you can expect to make in qa engineer jobs in Chicago, Illinois, as well as the skills that can boost your value and what the next steps in your career might be. Right now, the median software qa engineer pay in Chicago is $96,414 per year, which is 4% higher than the national average.
Find Your Next Chicago Qa Engineer Job. Monster Can Help Get You Started
Are you prepared for a career in qa engineer? If so, set up your profile on Monster for free and begin clicking on those qa engineer jobs. When you sign up with us, you’ll receive custom job alerts and expert advice on how to negotiate your salary in Chicago, how to nail your job interview, and more.