What Is a QA Manual Tester? Skills, Job, Salary, Career Path

Quality Assurance (QA) is a critical part of software testing. Without it, bugs and other challenges would riddle the digital world. You can take two approaches to QA testing: an automated process completed by computers or a manual process carried out by skilled professionals. Explore the role of a QA manual tester and learn about this unique career path. Also, learn about the average salary and the skills or education you’ll need to begin.  

Why QA manual testing?

When you work in software development or as a quality assurance tester, you will sometimes need to perform manual testing to mimic how an end user will engage with your product. You will use manual testing, a hands-on technique to see how your app responds during everyday use. For example, you might test a mobile app you’re developing to see how it responds when the user receives a phone call. 

You can also use software to create test automation frameworks to look for errors and bugs differently. However, every new application needs to be tested manually before applying test automation to confirm the feasibility of automated testing. Manual testing ensures test engineers become deeply familiar with the end product and the user’s experience, and it is a vital tool to help you focus on how end users might interact with the product. 

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QA manual testing vs QA automated testing

Who, or what, actually performs the test is the most significant difference between QA manual testing and QA automated testing. A human has a role in setting up the testing for both, but scripting takes over during the automated testing step. The testing tools will execute the test without human help. This can make automated testing more efficient. It is also valuable when you need to run many test cases.

QA manual testing is done end-to-end by a human QA manual tester. It is a very hands-on approach, with each test run individually. The QA manual tester or testing engineer is directly involved in the testing, and you'll use this method often to catch bugs and address complex feature issues before the software goes live.

What does the QA manual tester job involve?

A QA manual tester looks for problems and bugs in new software before and after it is released. Your role is to identify issues and help developers find solutions. 

The two main types of QA manual testing are white and black boxes. Typically, in the white box, you are part of the development team and know what the code should do. In the black box, you are testing as an outsider and get to experience the software as a new user would.

Either way, you could run many different types of test cases as a QA manual tester. Occasionally, you will ensure the software integrates smoothly with others or is compatible with many devices. You’re also trying to determine what type of experience the user will have with the software. 

To succeed, you need to be detail-oriented, pay attention to minor changes, and report your findings thoroughly and accurately. Learn more about the requirements of QA manual tester jobs below.

Requirements for the QA manual tester role

In software testing, repetitive, high-frequency tests are easy to automate. It’s the more complicated test cases that require a QA manual tester. That means that you’re signing on for a challenging role in software development as a QA manual tester. Read on to learn the typical requirements for a career in QA manual testing.

Education

To work in quality assurance and software development, you will typically begin with a bachelor’s degree. Consider studying computer science and information technology; a degree in engineering or mathematics can also help. You can also ensure that your degree programme includes some courses specific to quality assurance and testing. Otherwise, you can earn a certification or take a postgraduate course to help you gain the additional skills you’ll need. 

Certifications

You can advance your prospects for a QA manual tester career by earning certification as an ISTQB Certified Tester or a Certified Software Quality Analyst(CSQA). ISTQB, the international standards body for software testing certification, also offers advanced certifications for test analysts or test managers in specific areas such as AI or game testing. 

Experience and skills

To succeed as a QA manual tester, you’ll need, first and foremost, to understand the software development lifecycle (SDLC). After all, you will play a crucial part in the SDLC. 

Other essential qualities for a QA manual tester include excellent analytical skills and the ability to communicate effectively with others (written and verbal). You should also demonstrate an ability to think creatively and problem-solve. QA manual testing, after all, is all about finding ways to anticipate problems, test for them, and then resolve any issues found.

What each software developer is looking for will vary. You might encounter companies that want their QA manual testers to have years of experience. Other organisations will be happy to take on motivated rookies. You can also start a QA manual testing career working as a freelancer. 

QA manual tester career path 

The QA manual tester job is a starting point in the quality assurance realm. You might begin as a QA junior tester before being entrusted with manual tests. Once you have proven yourself, you can move on to become a testing analyst or testing manager. Take a look at these QA manual tester job titles and median base salaries:

• QA tester: ₹5,78,374 [1]

• Test analyst: ₹10,03,453 [2]

• Test manager: ₹22,12,257 [3]

Job outlook

The scope of software development is strong in India, with Statista estimating that the software market will reach 9.41 billion USD by 2024 [4]. Statista projects that rate will continue to grow at a compounded annual growth rate of 11.05 per cent through 2029 [4]. This is encouraging, as it will likely mean a sustained demand for software quality assurance professionals in the coming years. 

Is a QA manual tester job right for me?

QA manual testing is an analytical role in software development. Common duties you can expect to face include the following: 

• Create test plans for new software

• Identify project risks 

• Recommend steps to address issues

• Implement software testing and evaluate results

• Document and report testing results regarding usability and functionality

If you desire a career that immerses you in the software development process, a QA manual testing job could prove to be a suitable fit.

Get started in quality assurance

Quality assurance manual testing involves testing apps and other development projects to simulate how the end user will use them. Start preparing for your QA testing career with Learn to Program Quality Code from the University of Toronto on Coursera. You might also consider the Software Development Lifecycle Specialisation from the University of Minnesota, where you can explore traditional, secure, Agile, and Lean development philosophies. You can also find courses to help boost your knowledge of Agile methodologies, such as Introduction to Agile Development and Scrum from IBM or Google’s Agile Project Management.