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Insights Into Software Tester Job Postings (October 2025)

Source and credit: Findings summarized here are based on ASTQB’s analysis of current QA and software tester job postings in October 2025 ASTQB newsletter. Percentages are rounded. TestingCred prepared this public summary.

Updated: October 14, 2025

Key Findings at a Glance

  • Experience levels: Mid level dominates. No Experience Required less than 1 percent, Entry about 10 percent, Mid about 70 percent, Senior about 20 percent.
  • Work arrangement: Remote is still material. Remote about 30 percent, In person or Hybrid about 70 percent.
  • Education: Many postings prefer a bachelor’s degree. Some accept equivalent experience or a high school diploma.
  • Certifications: ISTQB appears frequently as required or preferred, not just for entry roles. Mid and senior postings ask for it as much or more than entry level.
  • Sectors hiring now: Information Technology and Aerospace and Defense lead. Manufacturing, Financial Services, Management and Consulting, Telecommunications, and Healthcare are also active.
  • Geography: Roles cluster near large cities. Aerospace and Defense shows a strong presence in the Northeast.

Experience Distribution

  • No Experience Required: less than 1 percent
  • Entry: about 10 percent
  • Mid: about 70 percent
  • Senior: about 20 percent

Work Arrangement

  • Remote fully remote with no required office days: about 30 percent
  • In person or Hybrid any required on site time: about 70 percent

Sector Snapshot

  • Leaders: Information Technology and Aerospace and Defense
  • Also hiring: Manufacturing, Financial Services, Management and Consulting, Telecommunications, Healthcare
  • Takeaway: Hiring spans many industries with strength in regulated, safety critical, and large scale systems

Geography at a Glance

  • Roles concentrate near large cities
  • Aerospace and Defense postings are strong across the Northeast corridor
  • Some remote roles list a preferred state or region for tax or time zone reasons

Certifications Signal Real Skills

ISTQB shows up frequently as required or preferred, especially in mid and senior roles. Employers are seeking verifiable skills that help candidates pass initial screens.

Education Notes

Many postings list a bachelor’s degree as required or preferred. A meaningful subset accepts equivalent experience or high school plus evidence of skill such as certifications, portfolio, or work samples.

Methodology and Limits from ASTQB Analysis

  • Timing: October 2025 snapshot of current postings
  • Sources: major job boards and company career sites with duplicates removed
  • Experience buckets used in this summary: Entry about 0 to 2 years, Mid about 3 to 5, Senior 6 or more
  • Remote definition: fully remote with no required office days. In person or Hybrid includes any required on site time
  • Note: Percentages are rounded. Sector and geography patterns are directional

What This Means for Managers and Job Seekers

Are fully remote QA roles gone?

No. They are fewer than the 2021 to 2022 peak but still meaningful. About 30 percent of current postings are fully remote.

How should hiring managers screen better?

Use verifiable signals. Ask for recognized certifications such as ISTQB, a brief practical exercise, and a short portfolio review. This filters AI tailored resumes without much friction.

Do I need a bachelor’s degree to get hired?

Many postings still list it. A combination of ISTQB certifications, relevant project experience, and clear communication skills can keep you competitive.

What certification should I get first?

Start with ISTQB Foundation Level CTFL. Given current postings, add a specialization quickly to match demand.

Which certifications are most in demand right now

Why do certifications matter at mid and senior levels

They provide a common skills baseline across tools, frameworks, and sectors. This helps in teams that span multiple domains or regulated environments.

Resources from ASTQB and AT*SQA

If you are hiring, consider noting ISTQB certification via ASTQB and AT*SQA in your preferred or required qualifications.