Software tester jobs A to Z: salary, training and duties

The Software Tester job offers exciting professional challenges, above-average earnings and unrivalled opportunities for development. But how do you get started? What exactly does a software tester do? Is it worth taking online training courses? How much can an entry-level, senior and middle-skilled professional earn? In this article we answer the most common questions on the subject.

What does a software tester do?

The task of the software testing specialist is to check the proper functioning: functionality and quality of the tested application. His/her work greatly supports the software development process and contributes to the increase of operational security and usability. What exactly does a software tester do? Let's find out!

A tester may have the following tasks:

Understanding and checking software requirements
Creating test scenarios
Perform manual and automated tests
Identify, analyse and document software bugs
Reporting, cooperation with developers
Communication with customers to clarify software requirements

Automatic vs. manual software tester: what's the difference?

We distinguish between automated and manual software testing. The tester may be skilled in both areas or specialise in only one. We show you the key differences.

Manual software tester: The manual software tester is the person who manually checks the software as specified in the test scenario. The manual tester checks the application under test against user and customer requirements, documents any bugs found and communicates with the development team.
Automatic software tester: As the name suggests, test automation the technician uses automated tools to check the software. It is mainly chosen when a large number of recurring verification tasks need to be performed. It can contribute to higher test coverage, speed up feedback and reduce costs. The automated tester is responsible for creating, scheduling and, if necessary, modifying scripts.

What expectations must be met?

The job expectations of a software testing professional may vary from one organisation to another. The following is a collection of general expectations that are common to most similar positions.

Junior software tester job

To be considered for a junior software tester job, you will normally need to meet the following requirements and have the following skills:

Basic software testing and quality assurance skills
Collaboration and effective communication
Knowledge and understanding of software criteria
Developing detailed test scenarios with the help of a mentor if needed
Strong analytical ability
Documenting and reporting detected errors
High level of English German
Knowledge of software testing workflows

An IT degree and programming skills may be an advantage, but in many cases these are not required.

Medior / senior software tester job

Significant work experience is required to obtain a Medior and Senior Software Tester position. Many years of experience have given the testing professional a deep understanding of common development bugs, test environments and testing methodologies. This enables faster and more effective defect detection. General expectations for a medior/senior software tester may include:

3-5 years of work experience in a relevant field
In-depth software testing skills
Knowledge of test tools, test management tools and test environment design
Knowledge of project methodologies
Creating test cases, test scenarios and user stories
Independent execution and documentation of manual and/or automated tests
Change tracking and reporting
Mentoring junior testers and in some cases coordinating the work of other testers

Generally, test coordinators and test managers are selected from the medior/senior tester level. Their responsibilities include not only testing, but also test planning and tester coordination. This requires, in addition to the above, organisational and leadership skills.

Software tester salary: what earnings are available?

Salaries for software testers are considered above average in the national and international labour market. Of course, the salary can be influenced by a number of factors, such as highest level of education, work experience, language skills, hard and soft skills. The following statistics are available to show what the average software tester salary is.

According to fizetesek.hu:

The average software tester salary in Hungary is 700 000 HUF. The lower 10% of online fillers earn less than HUF 455 000, while the upper 10% earn more than HUF 900 000.
The average salary for automatic software testers is slightly higher at HUF 800 000. The lower 10% of the job fillers earn less than HUF 495 000, while the upper 10% earns more than HUF 1 100 000.

Average salaries in the international labour market are slightly higher. According to the job search portal Glassdoor, the average salary for a software tester in the US is $73 733 per year. While according to Reed, the average annual salary for a software tester in the UK is £45 994. However, in these countries, the cost of living is much higher, so ultimately the possibility of achieving a higher standard of living is not guaranteed.

Is software testing training a good investment? Who should take a software testing course?

A range of software testing training and courses are available offline and online. If you are considering a career change, you may want to join a course to help you learn the basics. Several free and low-cost software testing courses are available in English on the following platforms:

Udemy.com
Coursera.org
Codecool.com

Join a professional team and work on exciting projects!

Since 2016, we have been supporting, testing and coordinating enterprise IT development, as well as developing enterprise-wide testing methodologies and business process automation. In this context, we implement enterprise-wide testing methodologies, develop colleagues and help select and implement the necessary testing and ticketing tools. In addition, we ensure the organisation and delivery of the necessary training and tutorials, and the preparation of documentation, thus ensuring effective change management.

Would you like to try what it's like to work as a software tester? Take a look at the open positions!