Job Description
When companies implement new information technology (IT) projects, it’s essential to make sure those projects meet the organization’s standards for usability and functionality. That’s where Quality Analysts are needed. A Quality Analyst plans and executes tests on software and other IT solutions to make sure they work as required.
During and after testing, Quality Analysts recommend the changes needed for projects to meet quality guidelines. A Quality Analyst must have strong attention to detail, as well as analytical and problem-solving abilities. Many times, Quality Analysts are also asked to create quality assurance policies and procedures for their organizations.
As more companies adopt agile and DevOps methodologies, Quality Analysts are becoming increasingly crucial. A Quality Analyst plays a role in the entire lifecycle of a project, making sure business goals are met, and taking a broad view of how projects are developed and launched.
Typical Duties and Responsibilities
- Develop test plans, test cases, test scripts, and test reports on multiple projects of varying size
- Perform testing on various software, telecom and reporting systems
- Identify and facilitate issue resolution with functional and technical groups
- Manage software beta test programs
- Validate that user expectations are achieved during the testing process
Education and Background
This position requires a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related discipline.
Skills and Competencies
- Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail
- Outstanding written and oral communication abilities
- Several years of experience in an SDLC quality analysis environment
Compensation
According to Payscale the median annual salary of a Quality Analyst with
1 Year of Experience:
- Orlando, Florida: $54,000
- Tampa, Florida: $67,000
- Jacksonville, Florida: $76,000
- Miami, Florida: $70,000
- Atlanta, Georgia: $80,000
- Chicago, Illinois: $64,000
- Houston, Texas: $74,000
- Los Angeles, California: $75,000
- New York City, New York: $75,000
- Seattle, Washington: $80,000
- Overall: $74,000
5 Years of Experience:
- Orlando, Florida: $87,000
- Tampa, Florida: $80,000
- Jacksonville, Florida: $90,000
- Miami, Florida: $90,000
- Atlanta, Georgia: $87,000
- Chicago, Illinois: $94,000
- Houston, Texas: $90,000
- Los Angeles, California: $83,000
- New York City, New York: $103,000
- Seattle, Washington: $90,000
- Overall: $91,000
Similar Job Titles
- Quality Specialist
- Software Test Engineer
- Software QA Manager
- Systems Test Analyst
- Software Test Technician
- QA Analyst
- Quality Inspector
- Quality Assurance Technician
- Quality Assurance Coordinator
- Quality Coordinator
- Quality Assurance Assistant
- Quality Systems Engineer
- Quality Systems Specialist
- Quality Review Specialist
- Production Quality Analyst
Career Path
The industry website Tech Beacon says Quality Analysts are in a unique position in the current landscape. As more companies adopt more cooperative philosophies and project methodologies, Quality Analysts are involved in every stage of a project’s development.
This unique view makes a position as a Quality Analyst a springboard to other careers in the IT field, such as product management, enterprise architecture, or customer experience leadership. They can also move into roles like release managers or engineers in organizations that take a holistic DevOps approach to project development.
The skills that make an excellent Quality Analyst can also lead to positions leading IT departments, like IT managers, Chief Technology Officers, or Chief Information Officers. Quality Analysts and IT managers both have to consider the big picture and think critically about how to test for and solve problems.
Position Trends
Thought leaders in the IT industry say Quality Analysts need to be mindful that many testing practices that have been used for years don’t apply to micro-services or cloud-based environments. Instead, testing is a continuous process in the delivery of projects and processes.
Soft skills like influencing others are also becoming more critical to Quality Analysts. Testing products is costly for companies, so it’s up to Quality Analysts to convince stakeholders in a business’s core departments of the value of testing to customer happiness and retention.
Job Outlook
Our world is becoming more reliant on technology, and the need for Quality Analysts to test products and IT deliverables is expected to grow in the coming years.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Computer Systems Analyst field is projected to grow by nine percent between 2018 and 2028. That’s faster than average.
Typical Hours
The typical work hours in an office setting for a Quality Analyst are usually from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where You Can Find Jobs
- 4 Corner Resources
- Career Builder
- Glassdoor
- Indeed
- Monster
- Zip Recruiter
- IT Career Finder
Are You Interested in Becoming a Quality Analyst?
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