AI Career Radar

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.

AI exposure47 / 100Moderate exposure

Based on O*NET work context for this occupation. This score does not predict individual job losses.

What drives the score

Automation and repetition raise exposure; freedom to set tasks lowers it. Each measure uses a 0–100 scale.

Degree of automation47
Freedom to set tasks74
Repeating the same tasks67
$104,300Median annual wage, U.S.BLS OEWS
+5.7%Jobs, 2025 to 2035 (faster than average)BLS Employment Projections
63Skill durability (moderate)Transferability, out of 100

How well your skills transfer

Each skill is scored on how well it transfers into occupations that are growing and less exposed. The ones high on both importance and transfer are worth deepening.

Highest transferability first

Both scores out of 100

Skills ranked by transferability. Both scores use a 0–100 scale.
SkillTransferabilityImportance in current role
Active Listening
63
72
Speaking
63
72
Critical Thinking
63
72
Monitoring
63
66
Judgment and Decision Making
63
53
Complex Problem Solving
62
60
Active Learning
62
53
Coordination
62
50
Reading Comprehension
61
75
Time Management
61
50
Show 25 more skills
Skills ranked by transferability. Both scores use a 0–100 scale.
SkillTransferabilityImportance in current role
Writing
60
69
Social Perceptiveness
60
47
Learning Strategies
58
47
Instructing
58
41
Systems Analysis
57
53
Systems Evaluation
56
56
Service Orientation
56
38
Persuasion
54
38
Mathematics
53
44
Science
52
44
Negotiation
52
28
Management of Personnel Resources
50
28
Operations Analysis
49
53
Installation
48
25
Quality Control Analysis
47
60
Troubleshooting
47
47
Technology Design
47
41
Equipment Selection
47
19
Management of Financial Resources
47
13
Management of Material Resources
47
13
Equipment Maintenance
47
0
Operations Monitoring
46
50
Repairing
46
3
Programming
45
66
Operation and Control
43
22

Compare how well you can use each skill in growing, low-exposure occupations with its importance in your current role. How we score skills.

Jobs you could move to

Compare related occupations by skill overlap, retraining effort, pay and projected growth. Choose a priority to adjust the ranking. Licensing requirements may limit some routes.

82/100 match
Median pay · U.S.
$129,180
10-yr growth
+21%
Skill gap
8%
Retraining
Low

Skills to build: Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Systems Analysis, Active Learning

82/100 match
Median pay · U.S.
$135,880
10-yr growth
+21.1%
Skill gap
11%
Retraining
Low

Skills to build: Service Orientation, Active Learning, Operations Monitoring, Judgment and Decision Making

80/100 match
Median pay · U.S.
$175,140
10-yr growth
+15.8%
Skill gap
18%
Retraining
Moderate

Skills to build: Management of Personnel Resources, Management of Financial Resources, Negotiation, Social Perceptiveness

78/100 match
Median pay · U.S.
$167,220
10-yr growth
+8.2%
Skill gap
14%
Retraining
Low

Skills to build: Negotiation, Time Management, Judgment and Decision Making, Persuasion

78/100 match
Median pay · U.S.
$139,500
10-yr growth
+9.4%
Skill gap
9%
Retraining
Low

Skills to build: Judgment and Decision Making, Systems Analysis, Service Orientation, Complex Problem Solving

78/100 match
Median pay · U.S.
$135,980
10-yr growth
+10.2%
Skill gap
9%
Retraining
Low

Skills to build: Technology Design, Judgment and Decision Making, Active Learning, Systems Analysis

A second source of income, before you need it

This page can tell you where Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers could go and what the move costs. The other route is not a move at all: something small of your own, running alongside the job, started while there is no pressure on it.

Where to learn the missing half: Google Career Certificates for systems analysis · active learning, LinkedIn Learning for writing · speaking, edX for mathematics · reading and PlanetNoCode for complex problem solving. Some of those are affiliate links. It never changes what we list.

Snapshot: O*NET 31.0, BLS OEWS May 2025, BLS Employment Projections 2025-2035. Scoring v2.1.0-onet-31.0. Method on the how it works page.