What Is a QA Manual Tester? Skills, Job, Salary, Career Path

Key takeaways

A QA manual tester identifies bugs in software during the development cycle and continues to do so after the release of the product.

• Seventy-three percent of QA manual testers hold a bachelor’s degree [1]. 

• QA testers are either white box testers (know what the code should do) or black box testers (outside of the development team). 

• You can become a QA tester by earning a bachelor's degree in a relevant field, earning certifications, and gaining experience in the field. 

Explore the role of a QA manual tester, compare it to other QA roles, and learn about how to enter this career path. If you’re ready to start building in-demand software and development skills, try the IBM DevOps and Software Engineering Professional Certificate, where you can learn the software development lifecycle, test-driven development, and CI/CD workflows. 

What is a QA manual tester?

To test software, developers will script test cases that present step-by-step instructions on what needs to be done to check that a feature works. For example, a mobile app developer will craft a test case to see what happens when the user gets a phone call or text while in their app. They’ll also need to test this across different types of devices and operating systems (OS).

Once a human plans and writes test cases, many tasks related to the testing portion of the software development process can be done and tracked with automation tools and software. However, there are still things that require human interaction and the expertise of a QA manual tester. We’ll discuss the differences in more detail over the next few sections.

QA manual testing vs. QA automated testing

Who performs the test and what type of test is being performed are the most significant differences between QA manual testing and QA automated testing. Humans have roles in the configuration of both, but exploratory testing techniques and the types of tools being used may differ. Automated testing can be more time- and cost-efficient for certain tasks, especially aspects of testing that need to be executed at scale, such as repetitive testing. Still, product requirements may dictate the approach QA and development teams will take.

QA manual testing is done end-to-end by a human QA manual tester. It is a very hands-on approach, with each test run individually. This approach to testing can be time-consuming, but it may be necessary to ensure compliance with user standards. The QA manual tester or testing engineer is directly involved in the testing, and you'll often use this method to catch and report bugs to resolve complex issues prior to a release.

What does a manual QA tester do?

A QA manual tester identifies problems and bugs in software throughout the development cycle and after it is released. Their role is to identify potential user issues and help developers find solutions.

The two main types of QA manual testing are white box and black box. Typically, in white box testing, you are part of the development team and know what the code should do. In black box testing, you are outside, experiencing the software as a new user would.

Either way, you could run many different types of test cases as a QA manual tester. Occasionally, you will ensure the software integrates smoothly with others or is compatible with many devices. Or to determine what type of experience the user will have with the software.

It all means you need to be detail-oriented, pay attention to minor changes, and report your findings. We’ll talk more about the requirements of QA manual tester jobs next.

Read more: Quality Assurance vs. Quality Control: Choosing the Right Career Path

How to become a manual QA tester

In software testing, repetitive, high-frequency tests are easy to automate. It’s the more complicated testing requirements that call for manual tester roles. These circumstances can mean you’re signing on for a challenging role in software development. The sections below outline the educational requirements and previous experience you'll need to begin or advance your career in QA manual testing.

Manual QA tester education

Seventy-three percent of manual QA testers have a bachelor's degree, 18 percent have a master's degree, 4 percent have a high school diploma, and 3 percent have an associate degree [1]. Most commonly, QA manual testers pursue degrees in computer science, information technology, computer applications, or electrical engineering. If earning a degree is not part of your plans, you might consider attending a manual QA tester boot camp or earning career certificates or certifications to fill the gaps in your resume.

QA tester certifications and certificates

You can advance your prospects for a QA manual tester career by earning certification from the International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB) as a Certified Tester. Another credential you can acquire is the Certified Software Testing Engineer (CSTE) certification from the Global Association for Quality Management (GAQM). ISTQB is an international provider of software testing certification and also offers advanced certifications in specialized areas such as AI or gaming for test analysts or test managers. You'll also find a variety of tech companies that offer career credentials in software testing techniques. For more information, check out Quality Assurance Certification: Options, Testing, and Careers.

Experience and skills

To succeed as a QA manual tester, you’ll need, first and foremost, to understand the software development lifecycle (SDLC). After all, you will play a crucial part in the SDLC.

Other essential qualities for a QA manual tester include excellent analytical skills and the ability to communicate effectively with others (written and verbal). You should also demonstrate an ability to think creatively and problem-solve. QA manual testing, after all, is all about finding ways to anticipate problems, test for them, and then resolve any issues found.

What each software developer is looking for will vary. You can encounter companies that want their QA manual testers to have years of experience. Others will be happy to take on motivated rookies. You can also start a QA manual testing career working as a freelancer.

Does a QA tester require coding?

Typically, you do not need the ability to code for manual testing, but you will need an understanding of testing tools along with problem-solving abilities and attention to detail. With that said, if you’re working in automation testing, coding skills are a necessity because you might use programming languages such as Python, Java, or JavaScript to write test scripts.

Manual QA tester jobs

The QA manual tester job is a starting point in the quality assurance realm. You might begin as a QA junior tester before being entrusted with manual tests. Once you have proven yourself, you can move on to become a testing analyst or testing manager.

All salary information represents the median total pay from Glassdoor as of December 2025. These figures include base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.

• QA junior tester: $76,000 [2]

• Software QA tester: $76,000 [3]

• Test analyst: $104,000 [4]

• QA test manager: $155,000 [5]

Job outlook

The outlook for QA manual testers and other roles in software development and QA is strong. Employment in this area is projected to grow 15 percent from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations [6].

Is a QA manual tester job right for me?

QA manual testing is an analytical role in software development. You’ll be expected to:

• Create test plans for new software.

• Identify project risks.

• Recommend steps to address issues.

• Implement software testing and evaluate results.

• Document and report testing results regarding usability and functionality.

If you are interested in being immersed in the software development process, a QA manual testing job could be the right fit for you.

Explore our free resources for QA testers

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• Study terms: Python Glossary: Key Terms & Definitions | Coursera 

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