QA Engineer
Ensures software quality through test planning, automation, and execution. Identifies defects, validates requirements, and collaborates with development teams to deliver reliable software products.
28 tracked skills · 7 core
Full QA Engineer skill breakdownSoftware Engineer
Designs, builds, and maintains software systems across the stack. Writes clean, testable code, collaborates in agile teams, and ships reliable features at scale.
24 tracked skills · 10 core
Full Software Engineer skill breakdownSalary snapshot
QA Engineer
$104,300/yr median
$61,440 – $167,010 (10th–90th percentile)
Source: O*NET OnLine (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics) (SOC 15-1253.00, 2025)
Software Engineer
$135,980/yr median
$82,460 – $214,670 (10th–90th percentile)
Source: O*NET OnLine (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics) (SOC 15-1252.00, 2025)
US market data (BLS/O*NET) — India-specific salary data coming soon.
9 skills both roles expect
These transfer directly if you switch between the two paths — but notice where the importance differs. Tap any skill to see why it matters.
| Skill | For QA Engineers | For Software Engineers |
|---|---|---|
| Python | Core | Core |
| Java | Core | Core |
| Git | Core | Core |
| SQL | Important | Core |
| Problem-Solvingsoft | Important | Core |
| Collaborationsoft | Important | Core |
| JavaScript | Important | Important |
| Docker | Nice-to-have | Important |
| AWS | Nice-to-have | Nice-to-have |
Where the paths diverge
The skills each role expects that the other doesn't — this is the real cost of choosing one path over the other.
Only QA Engineers need
19 skills, 4 of them core
Only Software Engineers need
15 skills, 4 of them core