Quality Assurance Tester
65AI EXPOSURE TODAY65
20-YEAR SCENARIO
NOT A FORECAST95%
NOT A FORECAST95%
THE DOOR · ENTRY DIFFICULTY TODAYC
STARTING PAY£22,000 - £27,000
NO MOATNo physical, legal or personal barrier protects this work from software.
Skip to main content
CAREERMASH (EN)FROM DIGITAL & TECHNOLOGY →
Quality Assurance Tester
Quality assurance testers find bugs and problems in computer software before it reaches people using it. They test apps and websites thoroughly to make sure they work properly and are easy to use.
THE DOOR: ENTRY DIFFICULTY TODAY, graded A (easy) to E (extremely hard). A Careermash rule-of-thumb index built from our AI exposure index and the job's moat class. It is not a forecast and not a count of job openings.
AI EXPOSURE TODAY is a Careermash index from 0 to 100 of how exposed this job's everyday tasks are to AI today. We estimate it by matching published research on how people use AI to this job, usually by keyword or subject area, and we lower it where the work is protected (for example by physical, personal or legal requirements). It is not a direct measurement of how much people in this job use AI.
This work is being absorbed by AI
AI exposure is high for this work and nothing structurally requires a human: no licence, no physical task, no relationship at the core. Enter as the person directing the tools, not competing with them.
Career progression path
1FIRST STEPJunior Quality Assurance TesterAs a Junior QA Tester, you will assist in executing test cases and documenting results. This role is ideal for recent graduates looking to gain hands-on experience in software testing.£22,000 - £27,000
2GAINING EXPERIENCEMid-Level Quality Assurance TesterIn this role, you will lead testing efforts, mentor junior testers, and work closely with development teams to ensure quality standards are met. Your expertise will be crucial in improving testing processes.£30,000 - £38,000
3PEAK CAREERSenior Quality Assurance TesterAs a Senior QA Tester, you will oversee the testing strategy for projects, manage a team of testers, and liaise with stakeholders to ensure quality objectives align with business goals.£42,000+
Apprenticeship listings for this career → (June 2026 snapshot; check closing dates on the official service)
There is more than one way in
You do not have to go the university route to get here. There is also a vocational route that skips a degree entirely.