Product Tester Jobs: What Are They and How Can I Get One?

Key takeaways

A product tester evaluates product quality and reliability to help firms make informed decisions regarding warranties and marketing strategies. 

• In the United States, product testers earn a median total yearly salary of $56,000 [1].

• Product testers do not typically need to meet specific educational requirements, but it's beneficial to have experience with the product you intend to test.

• You can work as a product tester to help companies gain insight into how well the product performs within certain demographics and come up with an effective marketing plan.

Explore product tester jobs and how you can get started. Interested in learning more about the user experience (UX)? Earn a Microsoft UX Design Professional Certificate, where you can build in-demand UX design skills like usability testing and wireframing, and practice using popular tools like Figma.

What is a product tester?

A product tester conducts specific tests on and uses products to evaluate them based on criteria that the company finds valuable. They then provide detailed feedback about the product to the company.

Corporations often hire distributors or marketing firms (third-party companies) that assign product testers to evaluate products. Product testers determine the product's capabilities and use cases. Companies then use this feedback to make claims when selling the product. 

Product testing safeguards against litigation regarding defective products or false advertising. The testing process will also provide the manufacturer with information to help make warranty decisions or add protection for the customer based on testing results.

Product testers get exclusive access to products before launch and can often keep the product once the testing is over. Many test the products in a familiar environment, such as at home or work, rather than in a lab or facility. This is an excellent way for a company to determine if its products will perform properly for the end user.

What do product testers test?

Product testers can work in many industries, including beauty, food, kitchenware, education, books, toys, furniture, hygiene, and health. The information product testers gather is often a primary marketing talking point, so product testing is essential for retail. Examples of products that companies have testers evaluate include:

• Video games

• Software

• Cosmetics

• Athletic footwear and apparel

• Automobiles

• Foods and beverages

• Electronics

• Baby and toddler products

• Pet products

• Household cleaners

How much do product testers make?

The median total compensation for product testers in the US is $56,000 per year [1]. With 15 or more years of product testing experience, you can make $84,000 per year [1]. Both figures include base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.

Types of legitimate product testing jobs

You can choose from various specialized testing roles. Here are four common product testing roles: 

• Concept testing: This involves a team of testers exploring a product's idea and projecting how it will sell on the market. Concept testing often involves teams pitching different product ideas to executives and conducting customer surveys. 

• Quality assurance (QA) testing: QA testing occurs in a controlled setting. Testing teams will thoroughly test product efficacy and reliability before placing it on the market. Testing teams will evaluate various valuable criteria for the company.

• A/B testing: This type of testing involves comparing two versions of a product, and the test groups will determine which features are valuable to customers through surveys. The features they will test could be colors, names, features, and other minor changes to the product. The A/B testing will shape the final product based on critical customer feedback.

• Market testing: Market testing involves launching a product into the market to assess how customers receive it, how it performs in various demographics, and what changes may increase product quality and sales. This product testing helps the sales teams quantify a product’s popularity and determine if it’s worth pouring resources into, including advertising, person-hours, and distribution.

Product tester jobs from home: Work-from-home options

Working from home as a product tester is a realistic goal. Most companies want their products tested in the home because end users will interact with them the most.

Your employer will likely ship products to you, and you’ll use company software or another interface to evaluate products, give feedback, and quantify the criteria your company offers you.

What qualifications do I need to be a product tester?

Becoming a product tester generally requires no formal education. However, most companies seek people with knowledge and familiarity with their products so they’ll receive an accurate evaluation. Someone who’s used a particular brand for a long time would be a top tester candidate because they know the ins and outs and what to expect from a given product.

Read more: How to Become a Beta Tester: Career Guide

What experience do I need?

The most valuable experience for an aspiring product tester is to become familiar with many industries while also developing a niche product testing background. Someone who has participated in focus groups, surveys, or polls to test demographics and markets would also make a strong product tester candidate.

Explore our free resources for product testers

Interested in learning more about product testing jobs and the product development process? Check out some of our free resources, like our LinkedIn newsletter, Career Chat:

• Watch on YouTube: What Is Usability? The Key to Seamless Design 

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