Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester Career Assessment
Finding bugs before customers do
Welcome
Software quality assurance (QA) analysts and testers make sure software works the way it should. They find bugs and problems before the public does.
You will explore what this detail-focused job is really like and whether it fits you.
This takes about 15 minutes.
What is a Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester?
A QA analyst or tester plans tests, runs them, finds bugs, and reports them clearly so developers can fix them. Many also write code that tests software automatically.
The Reality: Your job is to find what is wrong. You will spend a lot of time doing the same steps again and again, and telling developers their work has problems, kindly and clearly.
Your Responsibilities:
- Read what the software is supposed to do
- Write test plans and step-by-step test cases
- Test software by hand to find bugs
- Write clear bug reports with steps to repeat the problem
- Write automated tests that run by themselves
- Re-test after bugs are fixed
- Check that software is easy and accessible for all users
- Work closely with developers and managers
You are the last line of defense before software goes out the door.
A Day in the Life
8:30 AM — Check results from automated tests that ran overnight. Three failed.
9:00 AM — Team stand-up meeting.
9:30 AM — Look into the failed tests. Two are real bugs. You write clear bug reports.
11:00 AM — Test a new sign-up screen. Try everything: blank boxes, long names, wrong dates.
12:00 PM — Lunch.
1:00 PM — Write an automated test so this screen gets checked every night.
2:30 PM — Test the app with a screen reader to make sure blind users can use it.
3:30 PM — Re-test bugs developers say they fixed. One is still broken.
4:30 PM — Update the test plan for tomorrow's release.
Careful, detailed, and repetitive, with the satisfaction of catching problems first.
Training in North Dakota
No state license is needed. Many employers want a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field. Some hire testers with a 2-year degree, a testing certification, and strong attention to detail.
Training Pathways:
- Associate degree (2 years): Software or IT programs can lead to manual testing jobs.
- Bachelor's degree (4 years): Common for QA analyst and automation jobs.
- Career change: People from other fields (health care, finance, farming) sometimes move into QA because they know how users think.
Where to Train in North Dakota:
- ND State College of Science (Wahpeton and Fargo) — Software Engineering AAS
- Williston State College (Williston) — Information Technology AAS, Programming/Coding option
- Valley City State University (Valley City and online) — B.S. in Software Engineering
- North Dakota State University (Fargo) — B.S. in Computer Science
- University of North Dakota (Grand Forks or online) — B.S. in Computer Science
- Minot State University (Minot) — B.S. in Computer Science
Before You Start: High school diploma or GED. Strong reading and writing. Very strong attention to detail.
Tip: Start with financial aid, scholarships, and any help an employer offers — that is where the money starts. After that, ask a career counselor or Job Service North Dakota whether WIOA or other programs can help with what is left over, like training, exam fees, or a laptop. What can be paid for depends on the program and on your own situation, so ask before you sign up rather than after. Many IT certifications are also sold as low-cost online courses you can do at home.
Certification & Licensing
No license. One testing certification is common. Certifications show you know how testing is done the right way.
Certifications Employers Look For:
- ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL) — the most common testing certification worldwide
- ISTQB Test Automation — for automated testing
- Accessibility testing certificates (like IAAP) — a growing specialty
The Exams: The ISTQB Foundation exam has 40 multiple-choice questions and takes about 60 minutes (more time is allowed if English is not your first language).
Cost: About $230–$250 in the U.S. Prices change, so check before you buy.
Keeping It Current: ISTQB Foundation does not expire.
Salary & Job Outlook
North Dakota Software QA Analyst and Tester Pay (May 2025):
- Starting out (bottom 10–25%): $30.32–$37.75/hour ($63,060–$78,520/year)
- Middle (median — half earn more, half earn less): $40.35/hour ($83,920/year)
- Experienced (top 25–10%): $42.01–$50.96/hour ($87,380–$106,000/year)
What that means: Good pay. Testers who can write automated tests usually earn more than those who only test by hand.
Jobs in North Dakota: About 460 people do this work in ND today. By 2034, that should be about 500 (about 10% growth). Expect about 30 job openings every year in ND from growth and people retiring or changing jobs. Across the U.S., the change is about 10% growth — much faster than average.
Outlook: Good growth. Hand-only testing jobs are shrinking because of automation and AI. Testers who learn to automate and test AI features are in the best position.
Who Hires in ND: Software companies, banks and insurance companies, health systems, state government, and farm-equipment and manufacturing companies that build software. Many remote jobs exist.
Work Setting: Offices or remote. Usually daytime hours. Busy right before software releases.
Physical Demands: Light. Long hours sitting at a computer. Very screen-heavy.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, North Dakota, May 2025 (SOC 15-1253); North Dakota and U.S. long-term employment projections 2024–2034, via O*NET OnLine. Numbers are rounded.
Where This Leads
Path 1: Test Automation Engineer — Write code that tests software. Higher pay.
Path 2: QA Lead or Manager — Lead a testing team.
Path 3: Software Developer — Many testers move into development.
Path 4: Accessibility Specialist — Make sure software works for people with disabilities.
Path 5: Security Tester — Test software for security weak spots.
Path 6: Business Analyst — Help define what software should do.
The Real Talk
What's Great:
- Good pay
- Great fit for detail-focused people
- Many remote options
- Easier entry than development for some people
- Clear path to automation and development
- You protect users from bad software
What's Hard:
- Repetitive work
- You deliver bad news (bugs) to developers
- Crunch time before releases
- Hand-only testing jobs are shrinking
- Must learn some coding to grow
- Blamed if a bug slips through
- Long screen time
- Small field in ND
Be Honest: Do you notice small mistakes others miss? Can you do the same steps carefully many times? Can you give clear, kind feedback? Are you willing to learn some coding?