Also called: Software Quality Assurance Testers
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers build programming, quality control analysis and complex problem solving skills that carry over to other work. Below are 25 careers ranked by how closely their skills match, with pay from BLS May 2025. The closest match is Computer Hardware Engineers (83%).
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Sorted by skill match.
| # | Career | Skill match | Median pay | Pay change | Extra education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Computer Hardware Engineers | 83% | $161,740 | +55% | None |
| 2 | Validation Engineers | 81% | $102,440Pay for the broader BLS group “Industrial Engineers” | Not compared | None |
| 3 | Radio Frequency Identification Device Specialists | 76% | $130,220Pay for the broader BLS group “Electronics Engineers, Except Computer” | Not compared | None |
| 4 | Data Scientists | 74% | $120,230 | +15% | None |
| 5 | Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists | 73% | $122,570Pay for the broader BLS group “Physical Scientists, All Other” | Not compared | None |
| 6 | Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | 72% | $109,370 | +5% | None |
| 7 | Clinical Data Managers | 71% | $120,230Pay for the broader BLS group “Data Scientists” | Not compared | None |
| 8 | Statisticians | 69% | $105,650 | +1% | Graduate degree |
| 9 | Industrial Engineers | 69% | $102,440 | −2% | None |
| 10 | Automotive Engineers | 68% | $104,110Pay for the broader BLS group “Mechanical Engineers” | Not compared | None |
Compared with Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers, median $104,300. Skill match is our estimate (0–99) from O*NET 31.0 skills, knowledge, work activities and interests, adjusted for preparation and big pay drops. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, national median.
How important each skill is in work as software quality assurance analysts and testers (O*NET importance, scale 1–5).
The gaps that show up most often across your top 10 matches.
Free and low-cost training: use the CareerOneStop training finder below.
A concrete first step, the skills to add, and the hard parts of each job, from O*NET 31.0 education, training and work context data.
83% skill match · $161,740 · +55% pay
Equipment Maintenance · Repairing · Equipment Selection
81% skill match · $102,440 (broader BLS group)
Management of Personnel Resources · Negotiation · Management of Material Resources
76% skill match · $130,220 (broader BLS group)
Equipment Maintenance · Repairing · Equipment Selection
If you want to stay close to what you do now, these roles are the nearest.
The closest matches are Computer Hardware Engineers (83% skill match, median $161,740), Validation Engineers (81% skill match, median $102,440) and Radio Frequency Identification Device Specialists (76% skill match, median $130,220), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
Among the 25 matches, 13 pay more than software quality assurance analysts and testers at the median. The biggest increases: Computer and Information Systems Managers (+68%, $175,140), Physicists (+65%, $172,250) and Computer Hardware Engineers (+55%, $161,740).
22 of the 25 matches usually need no more education than you have now, based on O*NET Job Zones. 3 usually need a graduate degree: Statisticians, Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists and Physicists.
We compare the importance of skills, knowledge, work activities and interests in O*NET 31.0 for your job and every other career, then adjust for extra preparation and big pay drops. The full method is on our Methodology page.