What is a quality assurance analyst and how to become one

Q: How long does it take to become a Quality Assurance Analyst?

It takes 4 years of professional experience to become a quality assurance analyst. That is the time it takes to learn specific quality assurance analyst skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education. If you include the normal education requirements to complete a college degree, then it takes 7 to 9 years years to become a quality assurance analyst.

Q: Do you need a degree to be a QA analyst?

Yes, you typically need at least a bachelor's degree to become a QA Analyst. Most quality assurance analysts have a degree in computer science, information technology, or mathematics, such as statistics.

Q: How much do QA Analysts make?

QA analysts make roughly $72,800 per year. Those just starting as a QA analyst with minimal experience may make less at approximately $61,500. It's not uncommon for a seasoned QA Analyst to make around $125,000 annually.

Q: How much do quality analysts make?

Quality analysts make $68,000 a year, on average ($32.75 an hour). How much a quality analyst can make ranges from $56,000 to $82,000 a year. A senior quality analyst can earn around $92,000 a year, while a lead quality analyst earns close to $100,000.

Q: Is QA analyst a good job?

Yes, QA Analyst is a good job. Many within the profession rank it as one of the most reliable tech positions with plenty of room for growth within the software and tech fields. Salaries are reported as being heavily competitive, with minimal time needed for training with the right pre-qualification, such as certifications or a degree. While the job can be mundane at times, many QA analysts report, especially in the manual testing arena, it is not stressful. There are also opportunities for advancement.

Q: What are the five main responsibilities of a quality analyst?

The five main responsibilities of a quality analyst are: Auditing software and user-facing projects, Maintaining control systems, Troubleshooting failures within the testing environment, Creating and managing user experience and testing documentation, and Ensuring the software is fully functional before public production.

Q: What degree do you need to work in quality assurance?

To work in quality assurance, you need at least a bachelor's degree. To become a quality assurance specialist, you will need at least a bachelor's degree in computer science or business management. These courses will help hone your troubleshooting and quality testing skills to discover possible flaws in a product.

Q: What is required to be a quality assurance analyst?

The requirements to be a quality assurance analyst are a degree in a computer-related or mathematics field, extensive communication and problem-solving skills, and knowledge of native coding languages.

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted Expert

Matthew Burr

A quality assurance analyst ensures that products and services meet quality standards. They analyze data, identify areas for improvement, and develop strategies to enhance the quality of products or services. Quality assurance analysts work with development teams to test software, identify defects, and provide feedback. They also collaborate with other departments to implement processes and procedures that maintain quality control. Overall, a quality assurance analyst works to meet customer expectations and regulatory requirements for a product.

What general advice would you give to a Quality Assurance Analyst?

Matthew Burr

Assistant Professor of Business Administration, Elmira College

Ask many questions and be open to challenging opportunities. Look for additional continuing education training and certifications. Learn the business and build relationships.

ScoreQuality Assurance AnalystUS Average

Salary

5.7

Avg. Salary $73,532

Avg. Salary $59,228

Diversity

4.1

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.51%

Asian 11.99%

Black or African American 6.24%

Hispanic or Latino 8.82%

Unknown 4.70%

White 67.73%

Gender

female 51.05%

male 48.95%

Age - 43

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 43

Stress Level

5.1

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

6.1

Complexity Level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

6.0

Work Life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Quality Assurance Analyst?

Pros

Possibility of working remotely
Exposure to various software tools and technologies
Potential for career advancement within the field
Opportunity to work on challenging and complex projects
Chance to work in a constantly evolving industry

Cons

Can be repetitive and monotonous work
Can be stressful when dealing with tight deadlines or high-pressure situations
May require working long hours or overtime during peak periods
Can be difficult to communicate technical issues to non-technical stakeholders
May require testing in different environments, which can be time-consuming and challenging

Key steps to become a quality assurance analyst

Explore quality assurance analyst education requirements

Most common quality assurance analyst degrees

Bachelor's

65.3 %

Master's

14.5 %

Associate

11.4 %

Start to develop specific quality assurance analyst skills

Skills	Percentages
QA	8.99%
Regression	5.43%
Manual Test Cases	4.91%
Test Scripts	4.71%
Test Results	4.29%

Complete relevant quality assurance analyst training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New quality assurance analysts learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a quality assurance analyst based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real quality assurance analyst resumes.

Research quality assurance analyst duties and responsibilities

Develop processes within JIRA to manage the testing and weekly releases of new content for the Ralph Lauren content management system.
Work with providers and Medicare or Medicaid entities to validate EDI transaction sets.
Design test cases to rigorously test complex Medicare reimbursement funding and co-pay scenarios dealing with prescriptions.
Prepare test documents such as test scenarios, test conditions and test scripts on TFS with respect to the requirements.

Prepare your quality assurance analyst resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your quality assurance analyst resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a quality assurance analyst resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Quality Assurance Analyst Resume templates

Build a professional Quality Assurance Analyst resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Quality Assurance Analyst resume.

Apply for quality assurance analyst jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a quality assurance analyst job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do quality assurance analysts rate their job?

-/5

5 Stars

4 Stars

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Quality Assurance Analyst reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2022

Pros

-interacting with end users or customers - delivering successful products or services

A zippia user wrote a review on Oct 2020

Pros

I like testing because it can be interesting. Things can change but also stay the same. I like routine but not repetition doing the same thing. Testing isn't the best job but a good job.

Cons

Some things you test can be really picky to pass. It's likely they will always fail the first time. Some test seem to always pass and seek insufficient. I always look at productivity but also efficiency. So if not necessary by customer and always passes I can't see why a part of the test he removed especially if another part of the test will fail if it does. Options I am always open to.

A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2020

Pros

Working with technology.

Cons

Automated testing is more in demand than manual testing.

Quality Assurance Analyst FAQs

What is a quality assurance analyst and how to become one

What general advice would you give to a Quality Assurance Analyst?

What are the pros and cons of being a Quality Assurance Analyst?

Quality Assurance Analyst career paths

Key steps to become a quality assurance analyst

Explore quality assurance analyst education requirements

Most common quality assurance analyst degrees

Start to develop specific quality assurance analyst skills

Complete relevant quality assurance analyst training and internships

Research quality assurance analyst duties and responsibilities

Prepare your quality assurance analyst resume

Choose From 10+ Customizable Quality Assurance Analyst Resume templates

Apply for quality assurance analyst jobs

How Did You Land Your First Quality Assurance Analyst Job

Average quality assurance analyst salary

How do quality assurance analysts rate their job?

Quality Assurance Analyst reviews

Quality Assurance Analyst FAQs

How long does it take to become a Quality Assurance Analyst?

Do you need a degree to be a QA analyst?

How much do QA Analysts make?

How much do quality analysts make?

Is QA analyst a good job?

What are the five main responsibilities of a quality analyst?

What degree do you need to work in quality assurance?

What is required to be a quality assurance analyst?

Search for quality assurance analyst jobs

Quality Assurance Analyst jobs by state