QA Engineer Job 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 also expand your options by looking for other engineering jobs. Or you may want to fine-tune your search to these particular roles:
QA Engineer Education and Skills
You’ll need a college degree to obtain QA engineer jobs, but you have a few options in terms of what major to choose. Many go for a bachelor’s in computer science or information technology, but engineering or mathematics will work too (especially if you do an internship with a software company during your college summers). Advanced positions may require a master’s. And if writing isn’t your forte, consider taking some courses on that end, as you’ll have to provide clearly written test plans and test cases for most QA engineer positions.
The following skills should also enhance your chances for success:
- attention to detail
- analytical competence
- innovative creativity
- verbal and written communication
Update Your 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.
Interviewing for a QA Engineer Job
Make use of the interview resources on Monster, as you’ll likely need to do a round or two with hiring managers for any QA engineer jobs. Spend some time researching the company and its products, along with any software solutions it may have. Meanwhile, try practicing before going in with these sample questions:
- How do you differentiate a high-priority issue from a high-severity issue?
- Can you delineate the QA testing lifecycle?
- What types of testing have you previously worked on?
- Have you ever missed a bug? And how did you resolve the problem afterward?
How Much Do QA Engineer Jobs Pay?
You can expect a high salary in this field. The yearly median pay for a software QA engineer/tester in the U.S. is $92,492, and it can reach $111,964.
Your degree level, years of experience, and location can also affect salary amounts, so take advantage of Monster’s Salary Tools to get pay details for positions around you.
Want to Learn More About a Company You’re Interested In?
At Monster, we know that a company’s corporate culture can be an important factor for any new role—especially in the tech realm, where you may prefer a more laissez-faire startup mentality or a more intensive position with one of the FAANG giants: Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, and Alphabet (Google’s conglomerate name, post-restructuring). So go over our company profiles, where you can view:
- QA engineer jobs from tech companies throughout the country
- intel on software firms that hire QA engineers
- updated content on the tech/QA industry
Find the QA Engineer Jobs of Your Dreams
You’re a problem-solver and you’re in demand. Once you set up a free profile on Monster, the sky’s the limit when it comes to a lucrative QA engineering career: We’ll connect you to some of the best tech recruiters out there and send customized notifications about openings in your area directly to your inbox.