Sponsored Post: Careerist
Despite growing automation, companies continue to hire quality assurance (QA) specialists who can think critically, document issues clearly, and collaborate across teams—skills that remain difficult to automate and are highly valuable in today’s product teams. As a matter of fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects a job growth rate of 10% for software quality assurance analysts and testers between 2024 and 2034, much faster than the national average across all industries of 3%.1
With this outlook, you may be wondering if quality assurance is a good career for beginners. If you’re thinking about making a career switch to QA from another field, or are a fresh graduate looking for your first role, we’ve got a breakdown of the different paths you can take within this field and how to get started.
What is Quality Assurance?
Quality assurance is the process of maintaining product value, security, and customer satisfaction while staying on budget and deadline. QA professionals monitor every aspect of the development process, from defining quality standards to continuously testing to detect and correct any irregularities or issues. Some daily computer science QA tasks include:
- Strategizing test plans
- Creating and executing test cases
- Identifying and fixing bugs or other problems
- Documenting test processes and communicating results
- And more
Because of this, quality assurance is incredibly important in order to help companies maintain valuable products and services, increasing clients’ confidence in your business.
Types of QA Professionals
Below, we have an overview of just some of the roles within quality assurance, alongside their job descriptions. All salary data has been gathered from Glassdoor as of January 2026, showing median annual wages for professionals with 0–1 years of experience.
Quality Assurance Tester
Median entry-level salary: $61,000/year2
A QA Tester works with the development team to design test plans and scenarios. They’re responsible for the execution of test cases, validation of results, and documentation of any defects found during testing. As such, they should be able to analyze system specifications, identify issues, and communicate their findings clearly in their reports.
Quality Assurance Analyst
Median entry-level salary: $65,000/year3
A QA analyst is responsible for initiating and coordinating data collection, using statistical methods to create reports. They answer to the quality manager and often work closely with stakeholders on business requirements, to ensure that testing and quality assurance processes align with organizational goals.
Quality Assurance Engineer
Median entry-level salary: $84,000/year4
A QA engineer inspects and enhances products as well as monitoring and developing the inspection processes—including deciding what inspection and testing equipment to use, contributing to quality assurance policies, and writing procedures. QA engineers usually report to quality managers, though they collaborate across teams by evaluating system specifications against test cases and their results.
Automation Engineer
Median entry-level salary: $93,000/year5
Automation engineers use programming languages like Java, SQL, and more to develop and maintain automated test scripts to ensure that software applications meet specified requirements and perform as expected. Automation engineers need to have the ability to perform manual testing as well as use automation tools, and they’ll be expected to keep on top of scripts at all times to make sure the testing process continues to function accurately and efficiently.
What Are Employers Actually Looking For?
However, it’s important to note that hiring managers aren’t looking only at technical skills when finding people to join their team. Soft skills are just as essential. Yes, employers are seeking candidates with relevant experience and familiarity with QA tools, testing frameworks, and processes. But you’ll need to develop strong communication skills, critical thinking, and attention to detail.
While a deep expertise is not typically expected at the entry level, you should be able to showcase your technical literacy, communication and critical thinking abilities, and a willingness to stick with problems and keep learning. You’ll be faced with a technical skill test and a behavioral interview to demonstrate your readiness for the role and your fit for the team. That’s why, if you’re currently looking for QA training, finding a program that will help you build a well-rounded set of skills is key. After all, more and more employers are prioritizing skills over degrees, and depending on the company, will be looking for a demonstration of capabilities as opposed to a piece of paper from a university.
Many programs—such as Careerist’s software QA engineering bootcamp,QA automation engineering bootcamp, and QA bundle—emphasize not only the hands-on, practical training in tools like GitHub and Jira, programming languages like SQL and Python, and best practices for planning and implementation.6,7,8 They also focus on helping you hone the additional features that will help make you an ideal candidate, working on real-world testing workflows in collaboration with others to mirror how QA work is actually carried out, not just in theory. Ultimately, though, the route you take to enter the QA field will depend on a range of factors and take several steps, which we’ll explore below.
How to Get QA Skills
Step 1: Learn More About Quality Assurance Job Descriptions
First off, you’ll want to take a look at quality assurance, and all of the possible roles within the field, in order to learn more about the job requirements and the skills needed for success. Would the work you’d be doing interest you, do the benefits suit your lifestyle, and could the job match your own skill sets?
Also be sure to do some research on the job market in your area. Can you find local or remote companies that are hiring, or are you willing to relocate? On the BLS website, they map out the employment numbers of software quality assurance analysts and testers by state:9
| State | Employment |
| CA | 31,530 |
| TX | 19,300 |
| FL | 12,080 |
| NY | 11,140 |
| VA | 9,880 |
| WA | 9,220 |
| GA | 7,830 |
| MA | 7,650 |
| NC | 7,280 |
| NJ | 6,930 |
When searching online, use specific keywords such as “entry-level QA jobs” and filter by city or state (or even remote) to find jobs posted by companies that are hiring. Keep in mind that some entry-level QA jobs require local candidates, and certain roles may involve hybrid or onsite attendance at a specific point or site, rather than being fully remote.
Step 2: Find a Program
Once you’ve decided that a QA career is right for you, your next step is to find training. While many people may opt for a traditional degree from a college or university, still others prefer the flexibility of an alternative program such as a QA bootcamp. These are shorter-term, less expensive programs that can be completed in as little as a few weeks to several months, as they concentrate on practical career training rather than the more holistic education of a four-year degree. If you’re more interested in the latter course, figuring out the right bootcamp for you will depend on your experience and career goals, your schedule, and your budget, as well as the school’s reputation and curricula.
For instance, one person may have work or family commitments that mean they need to learn remotely and at their own pace. Meanwhile another may be able to dedicate themselves to full-time classes or need in-person education to better absorb the material. Consider several factors when comparing courses, such as school reputation, what’s taught in the syllabus versus what’s listed on job postings, the teaching style of the faculty, course duration and available schedule options, cost and financing options, and any career services offered when choosing the best bootcamp for your goals, lifestyle, learning style, and budget.
Step 3: Earn Your QA Certificate or Degree
Once you’ve chosen your program, the next step is to complete it and earn your certificate or degree. During this time, you’ll have a chance to get hands-on experience in a range of skills, from common tools, to how to run effective tests, and beyond.
Step 4: Start Your Job Search
After going through some training, you can now begin searching for an entry-level role. Many of these can be contract roles, so you may want to consider both permanent and contract opportunities when applying. Regardless of which path you pursue, getting career support will be incredibly beneficial, and the most reputable programs will not only teach you the required technical skills, but also provide career assistance to students and alumni. Depending on the school, this can include job placement services, networking opportunities, resume and interview assistance, and more. And remember it’s important both to take advantage of these resources as well as to put plenty of your own effort into attending networking events, applying for roles, and practicing interviews.
Step 5: Continuous Learning
Finally, in the ever-changing world of tech, it’s crucial to always stay up to date on the latest tools, trends, and methods. Even once you’ve graduated and landed a job, you’ll need to keep learning and networking. This way, you’ll be able to showcase your dedication to the team and better equip yourself to advance in your career throughout the years.
Should You Pursue an Entry-Level QA Job in 2026?
If you’re interested in a tech job that gives you a chance to solve problems, improve products and systems, collaborate across departments, and have ample room to learn and grow, then quality assurance just might be the right field for you. It offers competitive pay, with median salaries for QA engineers ranging from $84,000/year for 0–1 years of experience to $133,000/year for 15+ years.4
In 2026, many QA roles are expected to have increasing familiarity with AI-assisted and automated tools, alongside traditional manual testing methods, as they work with development teams to resolve issues. Understanding common software failures and best practices, as well as knowledge of software testing methodologies, is essential for success in these roles.
"Career Karma entered my life when I needed it most and quickly helped me match with a bootcamp. Two months after graduating, I found my dream job that aligned with my values and goals in life!"
Venus, Software Engineer at Rockbot
Are you ready to take the first steps toward a new career in quality assurance? Career Karma is here to help! We provide a variety of resources, from our industry reports and guides to our to our Comparison Tool, where you can see details about Careerist alongside other bootcamps who offer QA programs—so you can start your search to find the schools that match your goals, budget, schedule, and learning style.
Sources
1https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/software-developers.htm#tab-6
2https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/quality-assurance-tester-salary-SRCH_KO0,24.htm
3https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/quality-assurance-analyst-salary-SRCH_KO0,25.htm
4https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/quality-assurance-engineer-salary-SRCH_KO0,26.htm
5https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/automation-engineer-salary-SRCH_KO0,19.htm
7https://www.careerist.com/automation
About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication.
