10 of the Most Popular Types of Software Test Lead Jobs in 2026

See what kind of roles similar to Software Test Lead jobs are hiring now

Top Types Of Software Test Lead Jobs

• Qa Tester

  Salary range: $68,500 - $108,500

  A QA (quality assurance) tester is someone who tests a product, usually before it is moved to production, to find defects or errors. The QA tester tries to use the product in typical and unusual ways to find any issues it may have. While this a general term used in most industries, the specific job duties vary significantly. For example, a technology QA tester examines software or websites for ease of use and relevant content. During the review, you record problems, known as bugs, and report them to the development team to be fixed. In the gaming industry, a game QA tester plays a video game with a critical mindset, assessing the functionality and overall experience.

• Software Qa Lead

  Salary range: $129,000 - $129,000

  Software Qa Lead is a typical job search query Most salaries for Software Qa Lead jobs pay between $129,000 (25th percentile) and $129,000 (75th percentile) annually. Take a look at the variety of open positions nationwide for Software Qa Lead job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter.

• Qa Test Automation Lead

  Salary range: $93,000 - $120,000

  Qa Test Automation Lead is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for Qa Test Automation Lead jobs pay between $93,000 (25th percentile) and $120,000 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Qa Test Automation Lead job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.

• Test Lead

  Salary range: $95,000 - $129,500

  A test lead is an IT professional who oversees the process of testing software before moving it to production. As a test lead, your duties are to monitor other testers to ensure proper execution. Beyond acting as a manager, you also act as a second level of control to think critically about the tests. You have more experience and expertise than your supervisees, so you should be better able to determine what functionality of the software may not be covered by the tests. You likely need a bachelor's degree in this career, although for some jobs an associate degree is enough. However, remember that this is not an entry-level job. Regardless of your education, you should gain experience as a software tester and move up in the career field.

• Entry Level Qa Tester

  Salary range: $68,500 - $108,500

  The job duties of an entry-level QA tester, or quality assurance tester, are to ensure that new computer software, applications, or products do not have any defects or issues. The responsibilities of a QA tester often involve planning a test case, carrying out manual or automated testing, locating and reporting each bug, and ensuring that the product meets expectations. An entry-level QA tester often works as part of a team or under direct supervision.

• Qa Test Lead Remote

  Salary range: $62,000 - $129,000

  Qa Test Lead Remote is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for Qa Test Lead Remote jobs pay between $62,000 (25th percentile) and $129,000 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Qa Test Lead Remote job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.

• Lead Qa Automation Engineer

  Salary range: $88,500 - $123,500

  Lead Qa Automation Engineer is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for Lead Qa Automation Engineer jobs pay between $88,500 (25th percentile) and $123,500 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Lead Qa Automation Engineer job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.

• Software Tester

  Salary range: $69,500 - $109,000

  A software tester conducts the QA (quality assurance) testing phase of the project lifecycle. Responsibilities include examining software or websites as a user would—as it will be used post-release. During these test cases, the software tester records any issues (“bugs”) and reports them to the development team so they can be fixed. A software tester explores the software with a critical mindset, assesses the functionality and overall experience, and reports their findings.

• Remote Qa Tester

  Salary range: $68,500 - $108,500

  As a remote QA tester, you test products to avoid manufacturing defects and other errors before they are available for sale. In this work from home position, your responsibilities include testing existing and new features, reporting failures and errors, debugging code, gathering requirements to document any issues, and working with the development team to create strategies that ensure optimal software performance. Other duties include testing methodology and automation. In some cases, you work as part of a team during the design process to assess risks, determine if there are operational issues, and resolve problems before the developers complete the software.

• Remote Manual Tester

  Salary range: $70,000 - $101,500

  As a remote manual tester, your duties are to test software for bugs, user difficulties, or other technical issues. Typically, your responsibilities are to follow a specific test plan or guidance plan from a QA tester or other software engineer to ensure that the different features of a new version of an application or program work according to specifications. Manual testers are needed to ensure there are no issues before they have launched the software. Since you work from home, you need to make sure you are in close communication with the QA department to report any findings.