Details Report for:
15-1253.00 - 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.
The occupation code you requested, 15-1199.01 (Software Quality Assurance Engineers and Testers), is no longer in use. In the future, please use 15-1253.00 (Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers) instead.
Sample of reported job titles: Application Integration Engineer, Computer Consultant, Information Technology Analyst (IT Analyst), Product Assurance Engineer, Quality Assurance Analyst (QA Analyst), Software Quality Assurance Engineer (SQA Engineer), Software Quality Engineer, Software Test Engineer, Systems Engineer, Test Engineer
Tasks | Technology Skills | Tools Used | Knowledge | Skills | Abilities | Work Activities | Detailed Work Activities | Work Context | Job Zone | Education | Credentials | Interests | Work Styles | Work Values | Related Occupations | Wages & Employment | Job Openings | Additional Information
Tasks Save Table (XLS/CSV)
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Technology Skills Save Table (XLS/CSV)
- Access software — Citrix
; PuTTY
- Accounting software — Tax software
- Administration software — Software distribution management software
- Analytical or scientific software — IBM SPSS Statistics
; Minitab
; SAS
; The MathWorks MATLAB
(see all 9 examples)
- Application server software — Docker
; Red Hat OpenShift
; Red Hat WildFly
; Spring Boot
(see all 8 examples)
- Backup or archival software — Backup and archival software; Veritas NetBackup
- Business intelligence and data analysis software — IBM Cognos Impromptu
; MicroStrategy
; Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition
; Qlik Tech QlikView
(see all 5 examples)
- Communications server software — IBM Domino
- Computer aided design CAD software — Autodesk AutoCAD
; Bentley MicroStation
; Dassault Systemes CATIA
- Computer based training software — Moodle
- Configuration management software — Perforce Helix software; Puppet
; Visible Razor; VMWare
(see all 11 examples)
- Content workflow software — Emerald Software Group Emerald Green Office; Twiki; Workflow software
- Customer relationship management CRM software — Blackbaud The Raiser's Edge; Oracle Eloqua; Salesforce software
- Data base management system software — Amazon DynamoDB
; Elasticsearch
; MongoDB
; NoSQL
(see all 27 examples)
- Data base reporting software — Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services
; Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer; SAP Business Intelligence; SAP Crystal Reports
(see all 7 examples)
- Data base user interface and query software — Airtable; Apache Hive
; Blackboard software; Transact-SQL
(see all 17 examples)
- Data mining software — Google Analytics
- Desktop communications software — Skype
- Desktop publishing software — Adobe Systems Adobe InDesign
; Microsoft Publisher
- Development environment software — Apache Ant
; Common business oriented language COBOL
; Go
; Microsoft PowerShell
(see all 64 examples)
- Device drivers or system software — Microsoft DirectX
- Document management software — Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
; Document management system software; Dropbox
- Electronic mail software — Google Gmail; IBM Notes
; Microsoft Exchange
; Microsoft Outlook
- Enterprise application integration software — Atlassian Bamboo
; IBM WebSphere
; Microsoft SQL Server Integration Services SSIS
; Oracle Fusion Middleware
(see all 8 examples)
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software — Microsoft Dynamics GP
; NetSuite ERP
; Oracle Hyperion
; Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOne
(see all 10 examples)
- Enterprise system management software — IBM Power Systems software; Splunk Enterprise
- Expert system software — Ansible software
- File versioning software — Apache Subversion SVN
; Git
; Version control software
- Filesystem software — File server software
- Financial analysis software — Delphi Technology; Oracle E-Business Suite Financials
- Graphical user interface development software — Graphical user interface GUI builder software; Graphical user interface GUI design software; Salesforce Visualforce
- Graphics or photo imaging software — Adobe Systems Adobe Creative Cloud
; JamBoard; SmugMug Flickr
; Trimble SketchUp Pro
(see all 11 examples)
- Human resources software — Human resource management software HRMS
- Industrial control software — Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
- Information retrieval or search software — Apache Avro; LexisNexis
- Instant messaging software — Blink; GroupMe
- Internet browser software — Apple Safari; Microsoft Internet Explorer; Mozilla Firefox; Web browser software
- Internet protocol IP multimedia subsystem software — Voice over internet protocol VoiP system software
- Map creation software — ESRI ArcGIS software
; Geographic information system GIS software
- Medical software — Epic Systems
- Metadata management software — CA Erwin Data Modeler; Talend Data Fabric
- Network conferencing software — LogMeIn GoToWebinar
- Network monitoring software — Nagios
; Wireshark
- Network operation system software — IBM z/OS operating systems
- Network security and virtual private network VPN equipment software — Firewall software; Network intrusion detection software; Virtual private networking VPN software
- Object or component oriented development software — Advanced business application programming ABAP
; Apache Spark
; Objective C
; Scala
(see all 36 examples)
- Object oriented data base management software — Hibernate ORM; PostgreSQL
- Office suite software — Google Drive
; LibreOffice; Microsoft Office
- Operating system software — Bash
; Microsoft Windows Server
; Red Hat Enterprise Linux
; UNIX Shell
(see all 25 examples)
- Platform interconnectivity software — Amazon Web Services AWS CloudFormation
; Migration software
- Portal server software — Apache HTTP Server
; Apache Webserver
- Presentation software — Google Slides; Microsoft PowerPoint
- Program testing software — Hewlett Packard LoadRunner; IBM Rational Robot; JUnit
; Selenium
(see all 40 examples)
- Project management software — Atlassian JIRA
; Confluence
; Microsoft Teams; Slack (see all 8 examples)
- Requirements analysis and system architecture software — IBM Rational Requisite Pro; Requirements management software; Unified modeling language UML
- Spreadsheet software — Google Sheets; Microsoft Excel
- Storage networking software — Amazon Simple Storage Service S3
; Storage area network SAN software
- Transaction security and virus protection software — Antivirus software; Encryption software; McAfee; Symantec
(see all 5 examples)
- Transaction server software — Customer information control system CICS; IBM Middleware; Microsoft Internet Information Service IIS; Object Management Group Object Request Broker (see all 5 examples)
- Video conferencing software — Cisco Systems Webex; FaceTime; Google Meet; LogMeIn GoToMeeting (see all 5 examples)
- Video creation and editing software — Adobe Systems Adobe AfterEffects
; Flipgrid; Screencastify; YouTube
(see all 6 examples)
- Web page creation and editing software — Adobe Systems Adobe Dreamweaver; Google Sites; LinkedIn
; Social media sites
- Web platform development software — Backbone.js
; Google AngularJS
; Microsoft ASP.NET Core MVC
; React
(see all 28 examples)
- Word processing software — 3M Post-it App; Google Docs
; Microsoft OneNote; Microsoft Word
(see all 5 examples)
Hot Technology — a technology requirement frequently included in employer job postings.
Tools Used Save Table (XLS/CSV)
- Central processing unit CPU processors — Graphics processing unit GPU; Multi-core central processing unit CPU
- Computer servers — Application servers
- Desktop computers
- Digital cameras
- Flash memory storage card — Flash disks
- High end computer servers — Directory servers
- Integrated circuit testers — In circuit emulators ICE; Logic analyzers
- Mainframe computers — Mainframe operating systems; Supercomputers
- Network routers — Computer network routers
- Notebook computers — Laptop computers
- Personal computers
Knowledge Save Table (XLS/CSV)
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Skills Save Table (XLS/CSV)
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Abilities Save Table (XLS/CSV)
Work Activities Save Table (XLS/CSV)
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Detailed Work Activities Save Table (XLS/CSV)
- Develop testing routines or procedures.
- Compile technical information or documentation.
- Report maintenance or equipment problems to appropriate personnel.
- Document operational activities.
- Analyze data to identify or resolve operational problems.
- Troubleshoot issues with computer applications or systems.
- Collaborate with others to determine design specifications or details.
- Document design or development procedures.
- Develop detailed project plans.
- Test software performance.
- Test computer system operations to ensure proper functioning.
- Monitor computer system performance to ensure proper operation.
- Manage documentation to ensure organization or accuracy.
- Recommend changes to improve computer or information systems.
- Create databases to store electronic data.
- Install computer software.
- Develop performance metrics or standards related to information technology.
- Provide customer service to clients or users.
- Analyze data to identify trends or relationships among variables.
- Read documents to gather technical information.
- Evaluate utility of software or hardware technologies.
- Collaborate with others to resolve information technology issues.
- Assess database performance.
- Modify software programs to improve performance.
- Prepare data for analysis.
- Provide recommendations to others about computer hardware.
Find occupations related to multiple detailed work activities
Work Context Save Table (XLS/CSV)
Job Zone Save Table (XLS/CSV)
Title | Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed |
Education | Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not. |
Related Experience | A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified. |
Job Training | Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training. |
Job Zone Examples | Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include real estate brokers, sales managers, database administrators, graphic designers, chemists, art directors, and cost estimators. |
SVP Range | (7.0 to < 8.0) |
Education
Interests Save Table (XLS/CSV)
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Realistic — Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others. ![]() |
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Work Styles Save Table (XLS/CSV)
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Related Occupations Save Table (XLS/CSV)
15-1211.00 | Computer Systems Analysts ![]() |
15-1212.00 | Information Security Analysts ![]() |
15-1241.00 | Computer Network Architects ![]() |
15-1242.00 | Database Administrators ![]() |
15-1251.00 | Computer Programmers |
15-1254.00 | Web Developers ![]() |
15-1299.01 | Web Administrators ![]() |
15-1299.08 | Computer Systems Engineers/Architects ![]() |
Wages & Employment Trends
Median wage data for Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers.
Employment data for Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers.
Industry data for Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers.
Median wages (2019) | $51.69 hourly, $107,510 annual |
State wages | |
Local wages | |
Employment (2019) | 1,469,200 employees |
Projected growth (2019-2029) | ![]() |
Projected job openings (2019-2029) | 131,400 |
State trends | |
Top industries (2019) | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (42% employed in this sector)
Information (18%)
Manufacturing (11%)
|
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2019 wage data
and 2019-2029 employment projections
.
"Projected growth" represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2019-2029). "Projected job openings" represent openings due to growth and replacement.
Sources of Additional Information
Disclaimer: Sources are listed to provide additional information on related jobs, specialties, and/or industries. Links to non-DOL Internet sites are provided for your convenience and do not constitute an endorsement.
- American Society for Quality
- American Software Testing Qualifications Board
- Association for Computing Machinery
- Center of Excellence for Information and Computing Technology
- CompTIA
- CompTIA Association of IT Professionals
- IEEE
- IEEE Computer Society
- Institute for Certification of Computing Professionals
- Occupational Outlook Handbook: Software developers
- Project Management Institute
- Quality Assurance Institute
- Society of Women Engineers