The Evolution of Testing Careers: Where Are Testers Headed?

9 MIN READ

2025-01-02

Table of content

Testers on the Move
The Many Faces of Testers
Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic: The Career Split
Inside the Data
Career Path Summaries
Key Insights
Embrace Change, Shape Your Future

Testers on the Move

The job market for software testers is thriving, with overall employment for QA engineers, test analysts, and testers projected to grow by 17% between 2023 and 2033—much faster than the average for all occupations. Each year, an estimated 140,100 new openings in these roles emerge, driven by workforce transitions and industry growth. This makes the field of testing a promising career choice worth exploring. But what if you’re wondering whether this path is right for you, or if you’re already a tester and feel stuck, looking for your next step without starting over completely? To help, we’ve mapped out the career paths of testers—so you don’t have to. Discover how the roles are evolving, where testers are heading, how many stay in the field, and how many move on to something new.

Let’s dive in!

The Many Faces of Testers

At RSB, we firmly believe that great projects start with great matches. That’s why we place so much emphasis on understanding the motivations of our candidates and tailoring opportunities that align with both their goals and the needs of our clients. After all, a successful match isn’t just about skills—it’s about finding the perfect fit. But making that happen requires more than surface-level knowledge. It demands a deep understanding of the potential career paths within a role.

Taking a closer look at the main protagonists of today’s article— testers —shows just how diverse their world can be. While they may all fall under the umbrella of QA, their roles vary greatly, spanning functional and non-functional testing, automation, security testing, performance testing, exploratory testing, environmental testing, and even specialized areas like EMC or ESD testing. Each of these paths brings unique challenges and requires a distinct skill set, yet there are also shared traits and development patterns that we can observe. Understanding these nuances allows us to create stronger matches and help testers navigate their next steps. So, what does the ideal career path for a tester look like?

Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic: The Career Split

In our previous article in this series, we explored horizontal and vertical career advancement, examining how these career paths differ and what drives them (Read more here: Mapping Career Trajectories: Career Development Paths of Software Engineers in the Automotive Industry – RSB Automotive Consulting ). Today, we take a more psychological approach, focusing on how motivation influences career choices. The type of motivation that drives a tester often plays a decisive role in shaping their career trajectory. In psychology, motivation is classified into two categories: intrinsic and extrinsic, each of which impacts the direction in which a employeers develops.

Extrinsic motivation is driven by external rewards—such as monetary incentives, bonuses, or promotions—and involves the desire to achieve external recognition or avoid punishment. In a professional setting, this may lead testers to pursue roles with higher responsibility and financial benefits, such as managerial positions, where they can gain more privileges and recognition. For testers motivated by external factors, their goal may be to receive praise or rewards for meeting specific targets.

On the other hand, intrinsic motivation arises from within, driven by personal satisfaction, the desire for self-improvement, or the enjoyment of the work itself. Testers who are intrinsically motivated tend to specialize in their field, focusing on deepening their expertise and mastering the technical challenges of their job. They are more likely to pursue roles that provide opportunities to learn and grow, even in the absence of external rewards. Additionally, testers who feel a sense of fulfillment from sharing knowledge and guiding others may gravitate towards roles like trainer or supervisor. Conversely, those who thrive on novelty and variety might continuously change their focus, taking on new challenges across different areas.

Understanding these motivations is key to aligning career paths with individual aspirations—whether the goal is to lead, specialize, share knowledge, or explore new horizons. Which path resonates with your career ambition?

Inside the Data

To give you the insights you’re about to see, we dove deep into the data. We analyzed hundreds of profiles on industry portals, focusing on individuals who have journeyed through the diverse roles of testers in the automotive sector. We specifically looked at those with at least 15 years of experience —professionals who’ve had the time and awareness to consciously shape their career paths. By grouping job titles and roles, we identified 16 major categories of positions. With a little help from our talented developer, we were able to map out the career transitions, shifts, and even comebacks. This analysis gave us a percentage breakdown of the results, and below, you can see how it all comes together from the inside. What we uncovered offers a unique, behind-the-scenes look at how career data evolves and how testers in the automotive industry navigate their professional growth.

^source:^{personal research}

Career Path Summaries

And so, we arrive at the heart of this article: a breakdown of testers’ career paths. As shown in the infographic below, we’ve mapped out the developmental trajectories of automotive testers, highlighting how many chose each direction.

Think of it as a roadmap where every turn represents a decision: leadership roles, deeper specialization, entirely new fields, or even a step back to reassess priorities. While many testers stayed firmly on their current track, others ventured boldly into uncharted territory.

Some of these stats may surprise you! Take a closer look and see how these career moves reflect broader trends in the industry.

^source:^{personal research}

Key Insights

Analyzing career trajectories is not just about numbers—it’s about uncovering stories and patterns that reveal how professionals navigate their growth in an ever-evolving industry. From our data, we’ve identified several fascinating trends and correlations that shed light on the motivations and decisions of automotive testers over the years. Here are some of the most compelling insights that stood out:

Once a Tester, Always a Tester – A remarkable 35% of testers have found their professional calling and choose to remain rooted in their craft. Instead of chasing upward mobility, they opt for smaller, lateral changes—shifting roles to Test Analyst or QA Engineer—or refining their focus within the field. For instance, some transition from functional to non-functional testing or move from manual to automated testing. These professionals demonstrate that career satisfaction doesn’t always stem from climbing the ladder but from mastering their expertise and adapting to new challenges within their specialization.
From Tester to Manager: A Leadership Evolution – Nearly one-third of testers transition into leadership roles such as Team Leader or Lead Tester, forming a strong foundation for future managerial careers. Of these, roughly one-third advance further into managerial positions. When we add those who directly pivot into roles like Manager or Test Manager, the number becomes truly impressive—especially considering the technical focus of their starting point. This trend underscores a compelling shift: many testers are choosing to trade hands-on work for the challenges and rewards of delegation, coordination, and driving strategic direction.
Can a Tester Become a CEO? – Is the tester’s role a viable launchpad to the C-suite? Statistically, the odds are slim—but not impossible. In our study, none of the professionals analyzed had climbed directly from testing to the very top. However, this doesn’t mean the path is entirely closed. The data suggests that reaching the summit typically requires branching out into other roles beyond testing—perhaps into software, strategy, or cross-functional management. But who’s to say you can’t be the exception that proves the rule? With determination, adaptability, and the right opportunities, the journey from tester to CEO might just have your name on it.
The Scrum Master Leap: A Hidden Gem in Career Paths – One of the more intriguing—and seemingly unconventional—career paths for testers is the move to Scrum Master roles. While this transition isn’t overwhelmingly common, it’s statistically significant enough to catch our attention (7% of QA engineers). What drives this shift? Perhaps it’s the natural alignment between a tester’s keen eye for detail, their ability to navigate complex workflows, and the Scrum Master’s need to facilitate collaboration and ensure smooth project execution. Testers are already deeply embedded in the development cycle, often acting as bridges between teams. This makes the leap to a role focused on agile processes and team dynamics a logical extension for those seeking broader influence without leaving the world of product development entirely.
Decisions That Shape Careers – At a certain point in their careers, many testers are faced with the question of how much they want testing to continue shaping their professional journey. For some, the answer is clear: they decide to climb the career ladder within the testing domain, taking on roles such as Test Manager and eventually Head of Testing, where they still manage testing teams but with increasing responsibility. For others, the choice is more varied—they consider moving into more general managerial positions, opening doors to roles like Director or even Global Director. This shift often requires an adaptation of skills and a change in management approach, but it allows for continued career growth outside the narrow field of testing.
Product Owner: The Bridge Between Testing and Strategy – Around 5% of testers make the leap to becoming Product Owners, a role that allows them to move from technical execution to driving the direction of product development. Similarly, about 13% of managers across various levels transition into this role. As Product Owners, they shift focus from testing to taking on the responsibility of aligning product features with business goals, customer needs, and market trends. This role requires a strong blend of technical insight, strategic vision, and cross-functional leadership, making it a natural next step for those seeking to expand their impact within an organization.
Uncharted Territories – While many testers stick to what they know, a daring 16% completely step out of the testing world, venturing into new roles and skillsets that push their boundaries. These individuals aren’t afraid to swap their testing tools for entirely new challenges—whether it’s stepping into marketing, operations, or even fields far beyond tech. But it doesn’t stop there: 7% take a leap of faith into entirely different industries and sectors, while 3% take matters into their own hands and dive into entrepreneurship, creating their own businesses from scratch. These bold moves aren’t just career shifts; they’re a testament to the courage and ambition of those who refuse to be confined to one path, blazing new trails and redefining what it means to evolve. It’s proof that sometimes, breaking away from the familiar leads to the most unexpected, yet incredibly rewarding, journeys.

Each of these trends reflects the dynamic nature of the automotive industry and the diverse aspirations of those who shape it. Which of these surprises you the most?

Embrace Change, Shape Your Future

As our data shows, there’s no single, rigid career path—each decision opens up new opportunities. “The Only Constant in Life Is Change”. This timeless wisdom perfectly captures the essence of a career in the tech industry. Testing, like the entire field, is constantly evolving. These changes are inevitable, but they lead to new challenges and successes. Every step you take—whether it’s moving into leadership, specializing further, or exploring entirely different roles—opens the door to greater impact and fulfillment.

So, if you’re a tester ready for your next adventure, we invite you to explore our opportunities—apply here: Connect – RSB Automotive Consulting

If you’re looking for skilled Test Engineers to join your team and drive your projects forward, take a look at our services—we’re here to help you find the perfect candidates here: Test and Validation – RSB Automotive Consulting

With us, change becomes a step toward the future!

Sources:

Our statistics are derived from industry portals, featuring a sample of 500 automotive testers from around the world (with a majority based in Poland).
Lisowska, A. (2022, 10 marca). Motywacja wewnętrzna czy zewnętrzna? Czym się różnią? Czy ma to znaczenie? exp•pro. Motywacja wewnętrzna czy zewnętrzna? Czym się różnią? Czy ma to znaczenie?
Motivation: Intrinsic vs Extrinsic – Newman Tuition. (b. d.). Newman Tuition. Motivation: Intrinsic vs Extrinsic – Newman Tuition
Software Developers, Quality Assurance Analysts, and Testers. (2024). Bureau of Labor Statistics. Software Developers, Quality Assurance Analysts, and Testers