The current salary for Testers. Is it as high as expected?

Tester is one of the hottest professions nowadays, chosen by many youngsters for its attractive salary. Surely, many people are curious about the salary for Testers. So let’s explore with SmartOSC whether Tester is a career worth pursuing.

What is a Tester?

A tester, also known as a software tester, is responsible for testing the quality of applications/software, detecting errors if any, and reporting back to the project development team for correction before putting them into operation and handing them over to customers.

There are two types of Testers: Manual Testers and Automation Testers. Manual testing is the process of manually testing software. Testers will perform test cases and create test reports entirely manually without any assistance from automated tools. Automation testing is an automated testing method. Testers will write test scripts and use supporting tools to perform tests, making the testing process more efficient and less time-consuming.

Automation Testing requires more skills than Manual Testing, so the salary of an Automation Tester will be higher than that of a Manual Tester. That is why Manual Testers always strive to improve and learn additional skills to become Automation Testers.

What is the average salary for Testers?

According to surveys, the salary of Testers varies between 7 million VND to 23 million VND per month, depending on the position and level.

Classification of Tester Salaries

Firstly, Tester salaries will be classified by level.

In enterprises, Testers are usually divided into the following positions: Intern, Fresher, Junior, and Senior. Therefore, there will be different salary levels for each position.

For Interns: These are recent graduates with no experience. Therefore, the salary for this position is relatively low. The average income in this position will range from 3 to 6 million VND per month. This is the starting salary for probationary employees.

Fresher Tester: Fresh Testers are basically students who have just finished their probation. They have mastered the knowledge but lack experience or deep expertise. Therefore, Fresh Testers need more guidance, and their income when newly graduated ranges from 6 to 8 million VND per month.

Junior Tester: These employees have gained experience, knowledge, and good professional skills. Junior Testers can easily handle complex testing situations and can be proactive and creative in their work. Therefore, the average salary for this position is higher than the two levels above, ranging from around 15 million VND per month.

Senior Tester: This position is considered a manager and leader. They are individuals with rich experience and extensive knowledge of testing. Therefore, Senior Testers can manage and operate lower levels, and coordinate with employees to achieve higher results. The income of a Senior Tester is usually very high, ranging from 22 million VND per month and above.

Tester salaries also depend on educational qualifications.

Educational qualifications, through degrees and certificates, also contribute significantly to the increase or decrease in salary, as it demonstrates that the person has been exposed to certain knowledge about testing.

• Testers with ordinary certificates provided by private units can receive an average salary of 10,000,000 VND per month.
• Testers graduating with a bachelor’s degree in the field can receive salaries ranging from 12,000,000 VND to 14,000,000 VND per month.
• Master’s degree holders or above deserve a higher salary, averaging 22,500,000 VND per month.

However, degrees are not the only determining factor; it also depends on many other factors.

Classification of Tester salaries based on experience

Experience is something that can turn into money, a valuable asset for everyone in every field. For a Tester, the more real-life practice they get, the more experience they gain, and the higher their income. This is the most significant factor affecting those pursuing a career as a Tester.

• For fresh graduates, salaries range from 4,000,000 VND to 8,000,000 VND per month.
• The average salary for Testers with 2 to 5 years of experience ranges from 8,000,000 VND to 12,000,000 VND.
• There will be a better salary for those with 5 to 10 years of experience, with an average of 17,000,000 VND per month.
• Testers with 10 to 20 years of experience can earn from 18,000,000 VND to 23,000,000 VND per month.

The workplace is also not an exception affecting the salary for Testers.

Specifically, the average income of Testers in large cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City will be higher than in other provinces. This is reasonable because, clearly, the scale of companies in cities is larger than in rural areas, and the cost of living is higher. Therefore, business owners are willing to invest, especially in a profession that is in demand for candidates like testing.

To deserve such an attractive salary, being a Tester also requires many skills.

• Knowledge of technology (databases, operating systems, testing tools, evaluation, measurement, etc.).
• Good analytical skills, and detailed and reasonable planning.
• Communication skills with colleagues, developers, and customers.
• Teamwork and learning skills.
• Language skills (English, Japanese, Chinese, etc.).

In summary, the income of a Tester is quite high compared to other professions, and it is expected to continue to develop strongly in the future. Moreover, you also have the opportunity to access new technologies and knowledge, be promoted, and participate in both domestic and international projects. 

Therefore, the key to increasing income for Testers is to constantly improve themselves with more knowledge and skills. In this way, you will undoubtedly be rewarded with the salary you desire.