Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers
Also called: Quality Assurance Analyst (QA Analyst), Software Quality Assurance Engineer (SQA Engineer), Software Quality Engineer, Software Test EngineerDevelop 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.
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What the data says: AI could halve the time on 27 of its 30 tasks, yet jobs are projected to grow 5.7% by 2035. In the most exposed occupations, the squeeze shows up first among early-career workers. How to think about this →
About this projection
BLS builds AI into its projections where the research supports it: “BLS generally applies adjustments based on this research conservatively, where there is convincing evidence for a change.”
It also notes a limit: “BLS projection methods are not designed to capture extremely rapid technological change.”
On its AI exposure groups, BLS says exposure “does not imply job loss.”
Recent conditions
- In 2024, 3.7% of people in this work were unemployed, against 3.8% across all occupations Census ACS 2024
- From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 7.9 hires for every 10 job openings in professional and business services, which employs about 54% of people in this work, against 7.3 across all industries BLS JOLTS
One box per opening, filled for each hire; hires beyond the openings are added in a lighter shade. Higher can mean openings get filled, or that people leave often; lower, that jobs go unfilled, or hiring is slow.7.9 this industry7.3 all industries
Median pay by state BLS OEWS May 2025, state estimates
Tap a state for its figures.
Median pay in every state
| State | Median | Middle half earn | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $101,500 | $78,520 to $130,320 | 1,760 |
| Arizona | $100,650 | $77,180 to $124,840 | 3,890 |
| California | $128,740 | $93,530 to $165,530 | 27,710 |
| Colorado | $123,690 | $96,310 to $143,780 | 5,110 |
| Connecticut | $97,740 | $75,020 to $123,420 | 1,160 |
| Delaware | $106,060 | $88,410 to $131,770 | 520 |
| District of Columbia | $103,340 | $80,710 to $130,920 | 760 |
| Florida | $100,210 | $76,760 to $125,280 | 10,320 |
| Georgia | $103,040 | $82,620 to $125,610 | 7,110 |
| Hawaii | $102,930 | $78,180 to $130,860 | not published |
| Idaho | not published | not published | 560 |
| Illinois | $104,910 | $83,020 to $130,290 | 6,530 |
| Indiana | $87,020 | $72,290 to $105,800 | 1,610 |
| Iowa | $88,590 | $76,270 to $105,930 | 1,000 |
| Kansas | $94,490 | $72,750 to $105,090 | 1,140 |
| Kentucky | $79,100 | $62,310 to $102,240 | 890 |
| Louisiana | $66,810 | $39,830 to $84,400 | 450 |
| Maine | $86,050 | $68,050 to $100,600 | 390 |
| Maryland | $111,100 | $100,600 to $140,880 | 5,880 |
| Massachusetts | $122,210 | $80,160 to $141,500 | 6,640 |
| Michigan | $98,720 | $74,640 to $115,500 | 3,480 |
| Minnesota | $101,700 | $80,610 to $128,450 | 2,630 |
| Mississippi | $79,890 | $61,400 to $99,700 | 350 |
| Missouri | $85,530 | $71,190 to $109,400 | 2,930 |
| Montana | $103,930 | $84,050 to $134,650 | 150 |
| Nebraska | $98,010 | $78,900 to $119,960 | 1,240 |
| Nevada | not published | not published | 1,270 |
| New Hampshire | $107,100 | $78,960 to $138,350 | 770 |
| New Jersey | $119,470 | $91,370 to $138,690 | 6,550 |
| New Mexico | $116,580 | $91,780 to $132,050 | 450 |
| New York | $121,240 | $86,260 to $153,680 | 10,460 |
| North Carolina | $100,390 | $74,250 to $128,190 | 8,890 |
| North Dakota | $83,920 | $78,520 to $87,380 | 200 |
| Ohio | $98,000 | $78,380 to $106,430 | 4,400 |
| Oklahoma | $77,700 | $60,940 to $96,090 | 1,620 |
| Oregon | $108,440 | $79,400 to $146,120 | 1,840 |
| Pennsylvania | $93,030 | $69,720 to $113,190 | 4,530 |
| Puerto Rico | $61,690 | $47,610 to $82,600 | 270 |
| Rhode Island | $101,790 | $89,220 to $131,050 | 400 |
| South Carolina | $97,500 | $79,990 to $108,340 | 1,740 |
| South Dakota | $68,120 | $55,400 to $84,950 | 220 |
| Tennessee | $91,040 | $75,570 to $105,000 | 1,530 |
| Texas | $101,850 | $79,670 to $127,760 | 19,590 |
| Utah | $82,100 | $61,530 to $106,030 | 2,600 |
| Vermont | $76,580 | $65,070 to $104,160 | 170 |
| Virginia | $121,590 | $98,120 to $136,870 | 10,160 |
| Washington | $128,480 | $96,740 to $164,470 | 7,970 |
| West Virginia | $62,300 | $48,200 to $102,080 | 390 |
| Wisconsin | $89,400 | $65,770 to $118,670 | 3,800 |
Nationally: $104,300. Shades run from the lowest state median to the highest; a territory below that range takes the lightest. How to read this
How AI touches the work
What AI could speed up, task by task, and where people already use it.
AI could halve the time on 27 of its 30 tasks
| AI rating | Its main tasks | Share of Claude conversations May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| AI + software | Identify, analyze, and document problems with program function, output, online screen, or content. | 0.91% |
| AI + software | Document software defects, using a bug tracking system, and report defects to software developers. | under 0.01% |
| AI alone | Develop testing programs that address areas such as database impacts, software scenarios, regression testing, negative testing, error or bug retests, or usability. | Not published |
| AI alone | Design test plans, scenarios, scripts, or procedures. | Not published |
| AI + software | Document test procedures to ensure replicability and compliance with standards. | under 0.01% |
| AI + software | Install, maintain, or use software testing programs. | Not published |
See all 30 tasks
| AI + software | Create or maintain databases of known test defects. | Not published |
| AI alone | Provide feedback and recommendations to developers on software usability and functionality. | 0.07% |
| AI + software | Monitor bug resolution efforts and track successes. | under 0.01% |
| Not much | Test system modifications to prepare for implementation. | under 0.01% |
| AI + software | Plan test schedules or strategies in accordance with project scope or delivery dates. | Not published |
| AI + software | Develop or specify standards, methods, or procedures to determine product quality or release readiness. | under 0.01% |
| AI + software | Monitor program performance to ensure efficient and problem-free operations. | 0.03% |
| AI + software | Participate in product design reviews to provide input on functional requirements, product designs, schedules, or potential problems. | under 0.01% |
| AI + software | Conduct software compatibility tests with programs, hardware, operating systems, or network environments. | Not published |
| AI alone | Update automated test scripts to ensure currency. | Not published |
| AI alone | Review software documentation to ensure technical accuracy, compliance, or completeness, or to mitigate risks. | Not published |
| AI alone | Identify program deviance from standards, and suggest modifications to ensure compliance. | 0.02% |
| AI + software | Investigate customer problems referred by technical support. | under 0.01% |
| AI + software | Conduct historical analyses of test results. | under 0.01% |
| AI alone | Coordinate user or third-party testing. | Not published |
| AI alone | Perform initial debugging procedures by reviewing configuration files, logs, or code pieces to determine breakdown source. | 0.01% |
| AI + software | Evaluate or recommend software for testing or bug tracking. | under 0.01% |
| AI + software | Install and configure recreations of software production environments to allow testing of software performance. | under 0.01% |
| Not much | Visit beta testing sites to evaluate software performance. | Not published |
| AI + software | Collaborate with field staff or customers to evaluate or diagnose problems and recommend possible solutions. | 0.04% |
| AI alone | Design or develop automated testing tools. | Not published |
| AI + software | Modify existing software to correct errors, allow it to adapt to new hardware, or to improve its performance. | 0.19% |
| Not much | Recommend purchase of equipment to control dust, temperature, or humidity in area of system installation. | Not published |
| AI + software | Store, retrieve, and manipulate data for analysis of system capabilities and requirements. | Not published |
Ordered by how important O*NET's respondents rate each task (1 to 5) times the share who say it is part of their job. The ordering is ours. O*NET hasn't rated 3 of the tasks, so they come last, in O*NET's own order. 17 of the 30 have a published share of Claude conversations; “not published” means too few conversations for Anthropic to publish a figure.
Where people already use AI
The tasks above say what AI could speed up. This shows what people are using it for. Its 30 tasks fall under 23 work activities that many occupations share, and Microsoft counted how often each one came up in 200,000 conversations with its Copilot assistant in 2024.
- #8 Read documents or materials to inform work processes
- #11 Provide information to guests, clients, or customers
- #15 Evaluate the characteristics, usefulness, or performance of products or technologies
- and 6 more, in the table below
| Work activity | This occupation's tasks under it | People asked AI for help in 10,000 conversations |
AI did it for them in 10,000 conversations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Test performance of computer or information systems | |||
| Advise others on the design or use of technologies | |||
| Develop operational or technical procedures or standards | |||
| Evaluate the characteristics, usefulness, or performance of products or technologies | |||
| Set up computer systems, networks, or other information systems | |||
| Monitor operation of computer or information technologies | |||
| Maintain operational records | |||
| Read documents or materials to inform work processes |
Show all 23 activities
| Provide information to guests, clients, or customers | |||
| Communicate with others about specifications or project details | |||
| Analyze scientific or applied data using mathematical principles | |||
| Resolve computer problems | |||
| Compile records, documentation, or other data | |||
| Process digital or online data | |||
| Plan work activities | |||
| Coordinate with others to resolve problems | |||
| Develop technical specifications for products or operations | |||
| Design computer or information systems or applications | |||
| Document technical designs, procedures, or activities | |||
| Analyze data to improve operations | |||
| Notify others of emergencies or problems | |||
| Coordinate regulatory compliance activities | |||
| Design databases |
How people in this work use Claude
What people in this work made with Claude % of conversations
- Code fixes or debugging45%
- An app or website10%
- A script or snippet9%
- A document or report8%
- An explanation or answer5%
How they worked with Claude
73% of these conversations were about work. Anthropic Economic Index, May 2026.
How to read this
Work activities come from O*NET, which links every task to the broader activities it involves. Microsoft's figures are for the activity across everyone who used Copilot, not for software quality assurance analysts and testers specifically. Copilot is a general chat assistant; dedicated coding tools are not included, so programming help is under-counted here. Activities are listed by how many of this occupation's tasks fall under them.
The task ratings say whether AI could halve the time a task takes: on its own (“AI alone”), or with software built on it (“AI + software”). They were made by people in 2023 (Eloundou et al.). Claude's share is the task's share of all Claude.ai conversations in May 2026; Anthropic doesn't publish a task with too few conversations. None of these add up to the BLS exposure group, which combines five research measures.
More in the Guide: task ratings · task order · work activities · Copilot figures · Claude
High exposure doesn't mean fewer jobs
BLS projects most occupations in its two most exposed groups to grow: 141 of 206 rated Very high and 165 of 206 rated High. Each dot is one of the 831 occupations BLS rates.
Career moves into and out of this occupation
From moves between occupations found in online resumes, 2002–2016. Career changes only: a first job after school isn't a move.
Where people moved next
of 1,513,653 moves out
- 1 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 12%
- 2 Management Analysts Very high +10.1% 8%
- 3 Computer Systems Analysts Very high +7.9% 5%
- 4 General and Operations Managers High +5.0% 3%
- 5 Computer User Support Specialists Very high -3.5% 3%
Where people moved in from
of 1,585,203 moves in
- 1 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 10%
- 2 Management Analysts Very high +10.1% 6%
- 3 Computer Systems Analysts Very high +7.9% 5%
- 4 Computer User Support Specialists Very high -3.5% 4%
- 5 Network and Computer Systems Administrators Very high -4.1% 4%
The resume data uses 2010 occupation codes. This occupation comes from “Software Developers, Applications”, “Software Developers, Systems Software” and “Computer Occupations, All Other”, which today also include “Project Management Specialists”, “Database Architects”, “Software Developers”, “Web and Digital Interface Designers” and the occupation still called “Computer Occupations, All Other”, so these figures cover those too. Resumes over-represent younger, white-collar job-seekers and moves into management. Schubert, Stansbury and Taska (resume data).
Education and training for the occupation
O*NET survey of workers in this occupation
- 3% high school
- 9% postsecondary certificate
- 9% some college
- 26% associate's
- 50% bachelor's
- 3% master's
O*NET 31.0 survey of workers in this occupation · 34 people answered.
Census survey (American Community Survey)
- 1% less than high school
- 6% high school
- 13% some college
- 9% associate's
- 50% bachelor's
- 19% master's
- 1% professional degree
- 1% doctorate
Census ACS 2024, all workers in this occupation · 945 people surveyed.
Why the two can differ
O*NET asks about 20 people in each occupation, which makes its shares uncertain, but it reports the exact occupation and counts certificates. The Census survey reaches thousands, but it groups some occupations together and counts degrees only. More in the Guide
Median pay by highest degree full-time, year-round · Census ACS 2024, all workers in this occupation
15 programs, such as Computer and Information Sciences, General, Information Technology and Informatics.
See all
- Computer and Information Sciences, General
- Information Technology
- Informatics
- Computer Programming/Programmer, General
- Computer Programming, Specific Applications
- Computer Programming, Vendor/Product Certification
- Computer Game Programming
- Computer Programming, Specific Platforms
- Computer Systems Analysis/Analyst
- Computer Science
- Computer Engineering, General
- Computer Software Engineering
- Computer Engineering Technology/Technician
- Computer/Computer Systems Technology/Technician
- Computer Software Technology/Technician
Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023
5.0% this occupation
45.3% all occupations
| By kind | This occupation | All occupations |
|---|---|---|
| a license | <0.5% | 19.1% |
| a certification | not published | |
| an educational certificate | not published |
Share of jobs whose employer requires it. BLS doesn't say which credential. How to read this
Look up certifications, training and licenses U.S. Department of Labor
- Certification Finder ↗ certifications CareerOneStop lists for this occupation
- Training Finder ↗ schools and programs, nationwide; narrow the place there
- License Finder ↗ licenses by state
- Apprenticeship Finder ↗ DOL lists 1 registered apprenticeship in this occupation (Software Quality Assurance Tester (NOF)). Apprenticeship.gov can't be linked to one occupation, so search for “Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers” there.
These open in a new tab and send only the occupation's public code. More in the Guide
BLS AI exposure categories (Aug 2026) · BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 · O*NET 31.0 · Task ratings: Eloundou et al., Science (2024) · Microsoft "Working with AI" v1.1 · Anthropic Economic Index (2026-06-26) · Schubert, Stansbury and Taska · NCES CIP–SOC · Census ACS 2024 · BLS JOLTS · Brynjolfsson, Chandar and Chen, Stanford (Aug 2026)
See it online, and explore any career: https://www.pathmosaic.com/card/15-1253.00