By CBT Nuggets Editorial · Last reviewed May 2026
Software testers (also called QA engineers) design and execute the tests that catch defects before users do. The role spans manual exploratory testing, automated regression suites, performance and load testing, and the discipline of building quality into the release process. For analytical, detail-oriented people, software testing is one of the most stable on-ramps into the software industry.
On any team shipping software customers pay for, the QA hire is the role that decides whether 'release-ready' actually means something or whether your customers do the bug-finding.
What software testers actually do
Testers design test plans against product requirements, execute test cases (manual and automated), file bugs with reproducible steps, regression-test fixes, and contribute to release-readiness decisions. On modern teams, testers also build and maintain test automation suites in collaboration with developers.
- Write and execute test plans against product specs
- Build automated regression suites in Selenium, Playwright, Cypress
- Conduct exploratory testing to surface non-obvious defects
- Triage bugs and partner with developers on fix verification
- Performance, security, and accessibility testing where required
Required skills
Effective testers combine analytical thinking with technical fluency. Core skills include test-case design, familiarity with at least one test automation framework (Selenium, Playwright, Cypress), basic scripting (Python or JavaScript), bug-tracking discipline (Jira and similar), and an instinct for where defects hide. SDET (software development engineer in test) roles add deeper coding fluency and CI/CD integration expertise.
Education and certifications
Many software testers come up through self-study, bootcamps, or adjacent roles (support, business analysis). A bachelor's degree helps for some employers but is rarely strict. Certifications signal QA-specific discipline.
- ISTQB Foundation Level (Certified Tester)
- ISTQB Advanced Level (Test Manager, Test Analyst)
- Python Institute PCAT (Certified Associate Tester with Python)
- Selenium WebDriver certifications
Career path
Most testers start in junior or associate QA roles — running existing test plans and reporting defects. Advancement leads to senior QA engineer, SDET, QA lead, or QA manager. Some testers pivot into development, product management, or DevOps where their QA discipline becomes a force multiplier.
Manual vs. Automated Testing
Manual testing remains essential for exploratory testing, usability evaluation, and validating areas where automation isn't cost-effective. Automated testing dominates regression, smoke, and load testing — the cases that need to run on every deploy. Most modern QA roles expect fluency in both.
Compensation
How much does a Software Tester make?
| Experience | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (0-2 years) | $50,000 - $70,000 |
| Mid-Level (3-5 years) | $70,000 - $95,000 |
| Senior-Level (5+ years) | $95,000 - $125,000+ |
Salary figures reflect 2024 market data.
Hiring a Software Tester in the U.S. starts around $50,000/yr and runs significantly higher for senior roles. Training one internally on a CBT Nuggets Team plan is $749/seat/year — virtual labs, practice exams, and Trainerbot AI included.
For hiring managers
If you're hiring Software Testers
If you're hiring a software tester, the diagnostic skill is mindset. Strong candidates find non-obvious bugs in your interview's test exercise — the ones the developer who built the feature wouldn't have caught. SDET hires need real coding ability; manual QA hires need the kind of skeptical curiosity that turns into 'what if I tried...?'
Train Software Testers on your team
Two paths into CBT Nuggets, depending on whether you're hiring for the role or growing into it yourself.
Hiring or training Software Testers on your team?
See how CBT Nuggets builds Software Tester bench depth with role-based training, admin reporting, and certification tracking — $749/seat/year on the Team plan.
For IT Directors & training managersStart training as a Software Tester
Browse the courses, certifications, and hands-on labs that map to the Software Tester path.
For individual learnersBuild the capability
Related CBT Nuggets training
Each link routes to training that maps to the skills on this career path.