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Yes—in the United States, software quality assurance analyst and tester employment is projected to grow faster than employment overall. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects 6% growth from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3% for all occupations. That is an above-average outlook, not proof that openings are plentiful in every location or specialty.
What does the job outlook say?
BLS counted about 187,600 U.S. software quality assurance analyst and tester jobs in 2025 and projects 198,200 in 2035. The 6% increase is specific to this occupation. It is lower than the 10% projection for the broader combined group of software developers, QA analysts, and testers.
BLS also projects about 10,700 annual openings for software QA analysts and testers over 2025–35. Annual openings include positions created by growth and openings as workers leave or change occupations; they are not all newly created jobs.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsThese are national projections, not a count of current advertised vacancies, and they do not guarantee an individual job outcome. They cannot establish whether a particular city, experience level, or testing specialty has abundant openings.
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What does a software tester do?
BLS describes the work succinctly: “Software quality assurance analysts and testers identify problems with applications or programs and report defects.” In practice, the job is part of software development: finding and documenting problems so teams can address them. The occupation is not limited to running scripts.
Job titles vary. O*NET lists reported titles such as QA Analyst, QA Engineer, Automation Tester, Software Quality Engineer, Software Test Engineer, and Test Engineer. Because employers do not use labels uniformly, search several titles and judge each posting by its actual duties.
Why does BLS expect continued demand?
BLS cites the growth of software development for artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, robotics, and other automation applications. It also points to security concerns that may prompt investment in protective software and create demand for testers to design and execute tests. More products—including connected devices and electric vehicles—also rely on software.
These are reasons behind the agency’s overall forecast, not guarantees about a specific role. The projection does not establish that generative AI will increase or eliminate a particular tester job, that manual testing is disappearing, or that automation skills alone ensure employment. The national outlook does not break hiring down by manual testing, automation, performance testing, or seniority.
What can software testers earn?
The U.S. median annual wage for software quality assurance analysts and testers was $104,300 in May 2025, according to BLS. The lowest 10% earned less than $61,440, while the highest 10% earned more than $167,010. These figures describe the national wage distribution; the median is neither an entry-level salary nor a promise of what an individual will earn. Local pay and results will vary.
Where do software testers work?
BLS lists computer systems design and related services, finance and insurance, software publishing, and manufacturing among the occupation’s employment settings. In 2025, computer systems design and related services accounted for 30% of tester employment; finance and insurance accounted for 13%, while software publishers and manufacturing each accounted for 9%.
These figures describe where workers were employed nationally, not which industries currently have the most vacancies. When evaluating a posting, compare the work and requirements rather than inferring demand from an industry label alone.
How should you evaluate opportunities and prepare?
Use the national projection as a starting point, then assess the jobs you could realistically apply for. Compare postings by:
- Location: Look at the market where you can work, rather than assuming the national outlook applies uniformly.
- Responsibilities: Check whether the role focuses on manual testing, automation, or a mix, and what the daily work involves.
- Experience and requirements: Note the stated experience, education, and tools for the specific role.
- Industry and level: Compare roles at a similar career stage and in relevant sectors.
BLS says workers in the combined developer, QA analyst, and tester group typically need a bachelor’s degree in computer and information technology or a related field, such as engineering or mathematics. It also reports no prior related work experience and notes that additional training after employment may be needed to attain competency. Those statements cover the combined group; they do not mean every software tester job requires a particular degree or credential. Use each employer’s stated requirements to guide preparation, and treat any additional training as relevant to the jobs you want rather than a universal requirement.
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