Updated June 25, 2024
5 min read
A manual tester is responsible for ensuring the quality of products. They identify project needs, study product specifications, and perform assessments following company policies. Manual testers may create test structures, maintain records, and produce progress reports. They also communicate with staff for smooth workflow. In software development, manual testers work with the development team to fix bugs. They analyze and execute test cases, perform manual tests, and design test plans. Manual testers often have a degree in computer science or engineering, with strong knowledge of software code and test management software. They should be able to work in a team and possess critical thinking skills.
How long does it takes to become a manual tester?
It typically takes 4-6 years to become a manual tester:
- Years 1-4: Obtaining a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field.
- Years 5-6: Accumulating the necessary work experience in manual testing, which includes understanding software development life cycle, creating and executing test cases, and reporting bugs and issues.
ScoreManual TesterUS Average
Salary
6.4
Avg. Salary $81,680
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 49.83%
male 50.17%
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
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Manual Tester career paths
Manual testers often progress to roles like quality assurance testers, analysts, or engineers. They may also move into leadership positions like quality assurance leads or managers. Some manual testers go on to become project managers, delivery managers, or even directors of software development. In other cases, they may specialize in a specific area like automation testing or become engineers or analysts in a particular field.
Key steps to become a manual tester
Explore manual tester education requirements
The educational requirements for a manual tester are a high school diploma, although many manual testers have a bachelor's degree. According to the data, 0.0455% of manual testers have a high school diploma, 0.1819% have an associate degree, and 0.6364% have a bachelor's degree. Certifications such as Certified Scrum Master are also beneficial. Common majors for manual testers include Computer Science, Information Technology, Computer Applications, Electrical Engineering, and Computer Engineering. Some top schools for manual testers are Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, Harvard University, Duke University, and University of Pennsylvania.
Most common manual tester degrees
Bachelor's
73.2
%
Master's
18.3
%
Diploma
3.8
%
Start to develop specific manual tester skills
Manual testers need a variety of skills. They record scripts and prepare automation scripts. They also communicate with developers, managers, and stakeholders on application testing status. They implement automation using tools like Selenium WebDriver with Java. They work with business stakeholders and analysts to collect requirements. They create relationships in requirement traceability matrices. They design and develop automation test scripts using tools like Selenium. They conduct numeric, non-numeric, and limits data validation. They perform browser compatibility and configuration testing on different operating systems. They review design documents and ensure assigned projects meet functional specifications and quality assurance standards.
Skills Percentages Manual Test Cases 6.22% Regression 5.20% QA 4.62% Test Scripts 4.08% Jira 3.61% Show more
Complete relevant manual tester training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New manual testers 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 manual tester based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real manual tester resumes.
Research manual tester duties and responsibilities
A manual tester's key responsibilities include recording scripts, communicating with developers and project managers, and implementing test automation. They also analyze business requirements, create test plans, and execute test cases to verify application functionality. They often use tools like Selenium WebDriver, HP ALM/Quality Center, and SQL to perform various types of testing, such as GUI, integration, and compatibility testing.
- Used JIRA to manage testing and track test results for each build and report defects detect.
- Manage departmental inventory and troubleshoot testing, reporting and inventory issues.
- Assign the tasks of conducting regression testing, UAT testing and update testing reports to the manager.
- Contribute in developing website by using HTML coding.
Prepare your manual tester resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your manual tester 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 manual tester resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose From 10+ Customizable Manual Tester Resume templates
Build a professional
Manual Tester
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 Manual Tester resume.Apply for manual tester jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a manual tester 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 Did You Land Your First Manual Tester Job
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Average manual tester salary
The average Manual Tester salary in the United States is $81,680 per year or $39 per hour. Manual tester salaries range between $63,000 and $105,000 per year.
Average
Manual Tester
Salary
$81,680Yearly
$39.27
hourly
More manual tester salary info
What Am I Worth?
How do manual testers rate their job?
-/5
5 Stars
4 Stars
3 Stars
2 Stars
1 Star
Manual Tester reviews
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.
A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2019
Pros
New field to work with compassion.
Cons
Low pay structure as compared to the efforts put in.
Updated June 25, 2024
Zippia Team
Editorial Staff
The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.
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Updated June 25, 2024