QA and testing jobs: what the ads ask for
The BLS lists a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education for software quality assurance analysts and testers, and reports a median annual wage of $104,300 for them in May 2025, across all experience levels (BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook). Individual employers set their own bar, so check the Entry Bar level on each listing here.
The ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL) is the entry certification in the ISTQB scheme and a prerequisite for its other certifications that require Foundation Level (ISTQB). If a test automation ad lists a programming language as a must-have, you’ll see it in the must-have list, though it doesn’t change the level.