6 High-Paying Software Testing Career Paths In 2024 (2024)

After training more than 30,000+ students in the tech field, we know the ins and outs of career paths for software testers.

Based on our expertise and years of experience, I have written this guide.

This includes high-demand software testing career paths, job roles, career opportunities, and more.

Best Software testing career paths

1. Junior software tester

A junior software tester is an entry-level job position in the field of quality assurance. They are specially recruited to execute different test cases under the supervision of lead software testers to identify bugs or errors in software applications, report and document them thoroughly, assist in creating and maintaining test documentation, and participate in different types of testing.

This position allows you to learn and apply basic testing methodologies and tools, as well as get guidance from industry experts.

Years of experience required: 0-1+

Job responsibilities:

The job responsibilities of junior software testers vary with company requirements. To understand what they actually do, we have considered a relevant junior software tester job post on LinkedIn.

Here, we have listed a few common responsibilities of junior software testers in companies.

• You will be responsible for executing test cases under the supervision of senior testers and thoroughly documenting the results.
• Junior software testers must familiarise themselves with the product’s specifications to understand the expected outcomes.
• Their primary responsibility will be identifying, documenting, and reporting bugs and errors to the development team.
• They will assist senior testers and developers in developing test plans to ensure thorough coverage.
• Testers will work together with the QA team to improve and refine testing processes for optimal efficiency and effectiveness.

The picture below shows that this software tester job role is suitable for candidates in their early career stages.

Key skills required:

• Junior software testers must have the basic knowledge of planning and executing software tests of all functional and non-functional components.
• They must be aware of different testing principles, techniques, and tools used to manage and execute a testing process.
• Software testers should be familiar with automation tools that can assist them in automating repetitive tasks.
• Testers will be required to have a good understanding of software development approaches like incremental methodology, waterfall, or V-Model.
• They must acquire attention to detail and commitment skills to achieve high standards and be able to work in a team.
• This role requires strong communication skills as testers need to effectively communicate testing plans and outcomes with team members.

Average annual salary: ₹3.4 lakhs in India, $74,980 in the US

2. Infrastructure vulnerability lead

An infra (infrastructure) vulnerability lead is a cyber security job role that focuses on identifying, assessing, and managing vulnerabilities in the IT infrastructure of a company. They also coordinate with a company’s IT team to implement better solutions, keep them updated on emerging threats and vulnerabilities, and assist in developing vulnerability management policies and procedures.

Years of experience required: 3+

Job responsibilities:

We have picked up an infrastructure vulnerability lead job post from LinkedIn to understand the job responsibilities of such professionals and their skill requirements. Listed below are some of their responsibilities:

• This senior role requires you to design, implement, and manage a comprehensive vulnerability management program aligned with industry best practices (e.g., NIST CSF).
• You will engage in optimizing vulnerability scanning across diverse IT environments.
• You will serve as the primary point of contact (POC) for technical inquiries and escalations related to the software platform.
• It also asks professionals to identify opportunities for automation and integration to streamline vulnerability management processes.
• Your responsibility will be to provide advanced troubleshooting and resolve issues for the QA team to ensure the stability and reliability of vulnerability scanning operations.
• You will conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing using industry-recognized tools and methodologies.
• You need to provide regular updates and insights to senior management and key stakeholders on the organisation’s vulnerability posture.

Key skills required:

• It requires practical experience with Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems.
• You must have basic knowledge of scripting languages (e.g., Python and Bash).
• Acquire hands-on experience with penetration testing methodologies (e.g., OWASP Top 10).
• Earning certifications in vulnerability management (e.g., GSEC, CISSP) will be an advantage for the role.
• You must be able to work independently and also in a team and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• You will most often work with IT operations, security operations, and compliance teams to ensure alignment and coordination on vulnerability management initiatives.
• This role requires proper attention to detail, and problem-solving skills, along with excellent communication skills.

The picture below shows why software testers are suitable for vulnerability management.

Average annual salary: ₹15.2 lakhs in India, $1,35,722 in the US

3. Performance tester

A performance tester is responsible for evaluating how a software or application performs under various conditions, including speed, responsiveness, and stability under different loads. These specialists design and execute performance tests, identify related issues, create test reports, and recommend improvements for system optimization. They usually perform load testing, stress testing, scalability testing, endurance testing, and spike testing to ensure a product performs the best under any condition.

The picture below gives an overview of what penetration testers do in a company.

Years of experience required: 1-3+

Job responsibilities:

As a performance tester, you will have multiple roles in a company. To get an idea of their responsibilities, we have taken a real-time performance tester job vacancy post from LinkedIn.

Listed below are some of the common job responsibilities of penetration testers.

• You will need to collaborate with stakeholders to understand performance testing requirements.
• Testers need to develop a performance test strategy and plan based on project objectives, as well as identify performance acceptance criteria.
• You will design performance test scenarios based on system architecture and user behavior.
• The role asks for creating performance test scripts using different performance testing tools like JMeter, LoadRunner, or Gatling.
• You will need to configure the test environment and test data to simulate real-world conditions.
• As a performance tester, you need to define workload models and determine load profiles.
• You need to conduct multiple performance tests according to the defined scenarios and scripts.
• It also requires experts to monitor system resources (CPU, memory, disk I/O, network) during test execution.
• You will be responsible for identifying and reporting any test environment or test script issues.
• The role mandates analyzing test results to identify performance bottlenecks and areas for improvement.
• You will also generate comprehensive performance test reports summarizing test findings, recommendations, and potential solutions.

Key skills required:

• The role requires practical experience with performance testing tools such as JMeter, LoadRunner, Blazemeter, Apache Bench, or Gatling. This includes proficiency in creating test scripts, executing tests, and analyzing results using these tools.
• You must have basic knowledge of programming languages such as Java, Python, and C#, or scripting languages like JavaScript, Groovy, or VBScript, depending on the tools being used.
• The role requires candidates who are able to monitor system resources (CPU, memory, disk I/O, network) during test execution and analyze performance metrics to identify bottlenecks and areas for improvement.
• It needs strong analytical and problem-solving skills to identify performance issues and troubleshoot them effectively.

Average annual salary: ₹5.6 lakh in India, $1,19,900 in the US

4. Senior software development engineer in test (SDET)

An SDET is responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining test automation frameworks and solutions to ensure software quality throughout its development life cycle.

They are focused on enhancing testing efficiency, increasing test coverage, and improving the quality and reliability of software. They bridge the gap between development and testing by implementing their programming skills to create tools and frameworks that support both teams.

Years of experience required: 5+

Job responsibilities:

To understand the responsibilities and skill requirements for a senior Software Development Engineer in Test, we have taken a job vacancy post from LinkedIn. Listed below are some of their responsibilities.

• You will be responsible for leading the development, design, and implementation of automation frameworks tailored to project requirements.
• You must collaborate with team members for the creation of the automation test strategy document, ensuring alignment with project objectives.
• This role requires experts to apply advanced programming skills to oversee automation systems and databases, guaranteeing comprehensive testing coverage.
• You need to use in-depth knowledge of software QA methodologies, project management tools, and QA processes to spearhead quality assurance efforts.
• You will be performing white box and black box testing, diligently identifying and resolving defects and performance issues.
• SDETs will work with a team of developers, testers, program managers, etc., for agile/scrum development processes and maintaining software quality throughout the development lifecycle.
• You need to create clear and comprehensive test plans and test cases, ensuring thorough coverage of application functions and scenarios.
• The role requires detailed knowledge of application functions, testing protocols, and debugging techniques.
• You must demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication skills, fostering effective collaboration with team members and stakeholders.
• Additionally, you must apply strong analytical skills to identify, report, and troubleshoot issues while maintaining meticulous attention to detail.

Key skills required:

• The role requires several years of experience in automation quality assurance.
• You must be proficient with at least one automation tool, such as Selenium, MABL, Playwright, Cypress, Katalon Studio, or Cucumber.
• To survive the competition, you need experience writing clear, concise, and comprehensive test plans and test cases.
• You need familiarity with CI/CD tools like Jenkins, and TeamCity and version control systems like Bitbucket and GitHub.
• Practical experience with API testing methodologies and tools can help you with the job.
• It requires basic knowledge of programming languages such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript is beneficial.
• The role needs a better understanding of Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) concepts.
• It might require practical experience working in Agile/Scrum development processes.
• SDETs must have strong analytical and problem-solving skills, as well as excellent written and verbal communication abilities.

The picture below shows the skill requirements for senior SDETs in companies.

Average annual salary: ₹11.9 lakhs in India, $1,73,567 in the United States

5. QA Architect

A QA architect is a senior-level software testing job role that focuses on designing and overseeing the overall quality assurance strategy and infrastructure for an organization. They design comprehensive QA frameworks and methodologies, create long-term quality strategies aligned with your business goals, identify quality-related risks, and establish best testing practices.

Years of experience required: 3+

Job responsibilities:

We have taken a real-time QA Architect job post from LinkedIn to understand their job responsibilities and skills requirements. Some of their responsibilities ae listed below.

• They will need to design and implement comprehensive QA architecture frameworks.
• Candidates will focus on the development and maintenance of automated testing suites to streamline the testing process and improve efficiency.
• This role requires collaboration with different teams, including developers, project managers, and business analysts, to define testing requirements and strategies.
• You will be required to establish and enforce QA best practices, standards, and procedures throughout the SDLC software development life cycle.
• QA architects need to perform regular reviews and assessments of QA processes and tools to identify areas for improvement and optimization.
• You must stay updated with the latest trends and advancements in QA technologies and methodologies to drive continuous improvement.
• They will sometimes act as a subject matter expert on QA-related matters, providing guidance and support to stakeholders and team members as needed.
• You will take part in multiple meetings and discussions to provide input and insights on QA-related matters.
• The candidates need to conduct a thorough analysis of project requirements to identify test scenarios, test cases, and acceptance testing criteria.
• They will work together with stakeholders to resolve and prevent defects, ensuring the delivery of high-quality software solutions.

The picture below gives an overview of QA Architect”s real-world job responsibilities.

Key skills required:

• To start working in a senior QA architecture role, you first need years of experience in QA testing and work as a junior QA architect under the supervision of industry experts.
• This role requires an extensive knowledge of software testing methodologies, tools, and frameworks.
• You must have good practical training with test automation tools and frameworks such as Robot, CodedUI, or similar.
• You need practical experience with programming languages like Python or C# to instruct automation tools.
• It is important to have excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with a keen attention to detail to perform your responsibilities efficiently.
• It also requires effective communication and interpersonal abilities along with collaborative skills to work together with diverse teams.
• You must show leadership skills for the role that showcases your ability to mentor and motivate team members.

Average annual salary: ₹24.8 lakhs in India, $1,59,128 in the United States

6. Business analyst Quality Assurance

A QA business analyst is a product development team member who analyzes the business domain, evaluates its strengths and weaknesses, outlines business requirements, participates in acceptance testing and beta testing, and devises new strategies and initiatives. They bridge the gap between the IT team and product owners.

Years of experience required: 5+

Job responsibilities:

We have taken a real-time job post on LinkedIn to understand the job responsibilities and skill requirements for QA business analysts.

• This role requires you to collaborate with business stakeholders to understand and document business processes, requirements, and objectives
• You will have to review the Business Requirements Document (BRD) and Product Requirements Document (PRD) to develop Test Flow and Business Scenario Flows.
• Candidates will engage in a thorough analysis of system integrations, data flows, APIs, and other technical components to identify potential risks, constraints, and dependencies.
• You may be required to provide expert guidance and recommendations to stakeholders on best practices, industry trends, and emerging technologies relevant to the project.
• You will engage in a comprehensive analysis of business operations related to quality assurance to identify inefficiencies, bottlenecks, and areas for improvement.
• The role requires you to identify automation opportunities and implement technology solutions to improve process efficiency and scalability.
• Candidates need to monitor the effectiveness of process improvements and make adjustments as necessary to achieve desired outcomes.
• You need to assess operational risks and develop mitigation strategies to minimize the potential impact on business operations.
• Sometimes, you will have to collaborate with internal stakeholders to ensure compliance with risk management policies and procedures.
• Candidates must stay informed about industry trends to proactively address/mitigate risks and adapt the processes as per various business trends & scenarios.
• Business analysts QA need to generate reports and documentation to track key performance indicators, project milestones, and compliance metrics.

The picture below shows how software testing skills take part in business analysis.

Key skills required:

• Candidates must have practical experience as a Business Analyst, with a focus on techno-functional roles.
• You must have a strong understanding of both technical and business concepts, as well as the ability to communicate effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• This role asks for proficiency in analyzing and documenting complex business processes and requirements.
• Having practical experience with software development methodologies, such as Agile or Scrum, is a must
• Candidates applying for this senior role must know APIs, database systems, programming languages, and other relevant technologies.
• The role requires excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• You must have strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively in a collaborative team environment.
• Having relevant certifications (e.g., CBAP, PMP, Agile, etc.) can make you the best choice for the role

Average annual salary: ₹7.8 LPA in India

Is software testing a good career path in 2024?

Yes, software testing is a good career path in 2024. We have witnessed the growing demand for software testers in companies, which compels us to share a few valuable insights to encourage more people to consider this domain.

1. Industry demand

The industry demand for software testers will remain high, especially with the rising need for best-performing software, security concerns, and faster navigation. Companies require expert software testers who can identify defects and bugs in software early.

The picture below illustrates the job outlook and industry demand for QA analysts and testers in the upcoming years. It shows a 25% growth in overall employment over 10 years from 2022 to 2032, which is more than any average occupation.

See Also

Will AI replace Software Testing?

The search term for “software testing” has increased in India and globally over the last five years, as illustrated in the below graph.

2. Job availability

The job availability for software testers is high, and they are required by companies at all levels. It means you can find a job at a startup or small business if the competition for MNCs is high during your early career.

We found 48,000+ job posts for software testing vacancies in India on LinkedIn.

3. Competitive salary

Software testers in their early career days receive lower salaries, but after gaining experience in the industry and upskilling themselves, the salary scale increases.

The graph below illustrates software tester salaries in India on AmbitionBox.

4. Easy market entry

The software testing market size is expected to increase by $20.6 billion between 2023 and 2028, rising at a CAGR of 10.64%, creating better job opportunities for entry-level software testers and experienced professionals.

The graph below illustrates the rise in software testing market size by components from 2022 to 2032.

Getting started as a manual tester is easy. You need to know the basics, have hands-on practice on different projects, and land an entry-level job. However, if you want better opportunities with a high salary, you need to adopt using different automation tools and frameworks and obtain global certifications like ISTQB certifications.

The picture below illustrates some of the software testing certifications available for aspirants from ISTQB

5. AI is not a threat to software testers

AI cannot replace software testers as the role requires out-of-the-box thinking and logical judgments that AI cannot fulfill. These tools will only automate some of your repetitive tasks, reduce the time taken in testing codes, and save resources.

The picture below illustrates how AI will make testing code different in the coming years according to coders, according to Stack Overflow Developer Survey 2023.

Software testing career opportunities in India

The table below illustrates some of the software testing career opportunities in India.

What Do Software Testers Do?

Software testers verify and validate the functionalities of software against some predefined user requirements. They are part of a software development team that performs functional and non-functional tasting using manual and automated software testing methodologies.

Some of the common responsibilities of software testers are:

• A software tester needs to interact with clients to understand their software or product requirements
• They review software requirements and determine the best test scenarios to assess if the software will perform as intended
• These testers will work in a team of software developers, designers, programmers, and other software testers to develop efficient tasting systems
• They need to design and create automated testing systems using programming languages like Python, Java, and Ruby
• A software tester is primarily responsible for detecting and analyzing software defects or bugs using analytical skills.
• They provide essential written and verbal feedback to the team and assist in enhancing the software design or functioning.
• Another essential function of software testers is to create reports on major findings of their testing systems and communicate the results to managers and executives

Skills and prerequisites to become a software testing expert

1. Understanding of the software development life cycle

The software development life cycle is a process used by companies to design, develop, and test high-quality software. Software testers need to understand the SDLC framework to plan their testing cycles. They can identify issues and bugs at each stage of development and report them earlier, reaching the execution stage of the product.

The picture below illustrates the six main stages of a software development life cycle that software testers need to know.

2. Know the software testing life cycle

The software testing life cycle is different from the SDLC framework. It provides a structured approach to testing, outlining the important phases of a testing life cycle, starting from requirement analysis to test closure. A software tester needs to understand this cycle to plan their work efficiently, allocate resources, and identify potential issues early. Each of these testing phases requires different skills and knowledge of a tester. For example, during the test planning phase, you need to understand how to create test strategies and estimate resources, while in the test case development phase, the focus is on writing effective test cases and prioritizing them.

The picture below illustrates the six essential software testing life cycle phases that testers must know.

3. Basic understanding of Database/SQL

SQL is the standard language for database management. As software uses databases to store data, testers must learn about them to provide better solutions for data validation. You need to learn about database structure, basic SQL queries, different operations, and how to manipulate data.

The picture below illustrates the top 10 popular databases used by professional developers that software testers can learn.

4. Knowledge of Linux commands

Many web applications and software are hosted on Linux servers. This makes learning Linux commands important for software testers to deploy, configure, or troubleshoot applications on these servers. You might not require in-depth knowledge of Linux, but learn essential commands, including file and directory management, text manipulation, network commands, file permissions, system monitoring, package management, file viewing and editing, compression and archiving, and shell scripting basics.

5. Proper understanding of different types of testing

Software testers will come across different types of testing during their testing journey. Each of these tests focuses on different aspects of software quality, addressing various types of risks and ensuring overall software quality and reliability.

The picture below illustrates the major types of software testing that you must know.

6. Experience with different automation tools

Software testers must learn to use automation testing tools like Selenium, Apache JMeter, RFT, Appium, etc., to automate tasks and meet project complexities. These tools provide faster feedback, reduce business expenses, improve accuracy, eliminate manual errors, and more.

The picture below illustrates the use of automation tools in testing code.

7. Have cross-browser testing skills

Software testing is not restricted to using one type of browser. Therefore, software testers must know how to run parallel tests on different devices and multiple browser versions. Cross-browser testing skills allow you to find and resolve bugs or errors on every platform. It ensures the product is compatible with devices of any screen size and using any browser.

8. Basic knowledge of a programming language

You might not need an in-depth programming language as a developer, but understanding the core concepts is necessary. Software testers need Java, Python, C#, Ruby, or any other programming language to write and maintain automated test scripts that increase test coverage and execution speed. It also allows them to participate in code reviews and communicate with the developers on code structure and logic.

The picture below illustrates the top 10 programming languages in India as of 2024.

9. Knowledge of agile testing

Software testers must know the use of agile testing methodology, as most companies are implementing it in their software development process. Agile testing starts right from the beginning of a project and continues throughout the development process, not just at the end. Due to regular testing, software developers can receive early feedback on errors and bugs in their system and resolve them.

10. Knowledge of performance and load testing

Software undergoes numerous tests during its development process, especially in an agile testing environment. However, once an application is nearly complete, software testers need to implement their load testing and performance testing skills to check whether the product can handle actual demands from end users and perform well under various conditions.

How Much Do Software Testing Experts Make?

Software Testing Experts make an average annual income of around ₹4.7 lakhs in India, with a monthly take-home salary of ₹26,977 – ₹28,361.

The table below illustrates the average annual salary of software testers in the top five cities of India.

In the United States, the average annual salary of software testers is $82,265.

The table below illustrates the average annual salary of software testers in the top five cities of the United States.

How Difficult is Software Testing?

Software Testing isn’t difficult if you have the right skills and knowledge of automation tools. But it isn’t easy as well. You need to think out of the box to identify every possible scenario or use case that can break the software. Besides working on your technical skills, you need certain soft skills like analytical and logical mindset, communication skills, attention to detail, excellent time management, creative thinking, etc.

Another difficulty of being a software tester is that you need to understand the ins and outs of the software. As a software developer, you don’t need to understand all software functionalities, but QAs need to understand them to ensure the software is ready to deploy in the market and has no errors or bugs.

Software Testing course certification to start your career

Codegnan makes your Software Testing certification path easy. Their 3-month software testing course in Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Vijayawada is specially designed with all the essential concepts for everyone from fresh graduates to working professionals. With this course, not only do you get job-ready and apply for early-stage software testing jobs, but you are also ready for any global software testing certification examinations.

The course costs you ₹50,000 and covers theoretical and practical sessions and working on real-world projects under the mentorship of industry experts.

You will not only learn about manual and automation testing but also learn about core Java, SQL, and web technologies.

Upon course completion, you will receive industry-recognized certificates that show potential recruiters your skills and expertise.

You can add our project work to your GitHub account and share links among professional networks. We will also assist you in building a good resume and offer interview preparation.

A big surprise for Codegnan learners: join our Job Accelerator Program, which makes you industry-ready and gives you immediate placement opportunities in 100 days.

Additionally, we keep sharing about placement drives on our social media pages for every batch.

The picture below is shared by Saketh Kallepu, co-founder of Codegnan, on LinkedIn.

We are trusted by 30,000+ students and placed 2800+ students across 1250+ companies.

Our GMB rating is 4.8 out of 5, as reviewed by 2383 people. This showcases our students’ trust in us, which ensures you can also believe in us.

FAQs

Which is better, QA or developer?

QA is better than developer only if you have the required skills. It is easy to learn, and intensive coding isn’t needed in comparison to developers. However, software testers need to be creative in thinking of possible use cases to test software for end users and have knowledge of all the functionalities of an application or software.

Are software testers paid well?

Yes, software testers are paid well. The average annual salary of a tester in India is around ₹4.7 lakhs. However, Experienced software testers with knowledge of automation testing tools and frameworks are paid better. For example, the average annual salary of a QA lead in India is ₹16.3 lakhs, and QA managers earn ₹18.6 lakhs.

Will AI replace software testers?

No, AI won’t replace software testers but will complete some basic tasks and automate repetitive time-taking testing jobs. They can develop initial code, create test cases, and write documentation. It will only enhance testing accuracy, reduce time and resources, assist with reporting, etc. These tools won’t be able to identify all kinds of bugs in software, make critical judgments, and develop meaningful solutions. Therefore, software testers will be there at least for a few decades now.

Is it hard to get a software testing job?

No, it isn’t hard to get a software testing job, especially if you give skills and hands-on training on software and application testing. If enrolling in the Job Accelerator Program of Codegnan, you can immediately launch an internship opportunity or full-time job after course completion. You can also search for entry-level jobs on LinkedIn and Indeed.