How to Make 6 Figures As A Software Quality Tester? (11 Best Ways in 2024)

Updated: September 6th, 2024

So you want to make six figures as a software quality tester? Good for you! Being a software quality tester is a highly respectable and well-paid profession, and there's no reason why you can't earn a high income if you put your mind to it.

In this blog post, we'll look at some of the best ways to make more money as a software quality tester - business ideas you can start to achieve such income. Keep reading to learn more!

1. Start a freelance writing business ($65.5K/month)

Starting a freelance writing business could be a highly effective way to supplement your income and help you reach the six-figure mark as a software quality tester. As an entrepreneurial-minded professional, you could leverage your industry knowledge to create content tailored to the tech and software sectors, capitalizing on your expertise to offer valuable insights.

You could also benefit from the flexibility freelance writing offers, allowing you to define your own work schedule and work from home. By honing your strong writing skills, meeting deadlines, and staying on the cutting edge of writing trends and tools, you could open up new revenue streams and diversify your income sources. Proper communication skills and a self-starter attitude will be key in establishing and growing your freelance writing business.

How much you can make: $700 — $500,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $500 (?)

How long does it take to build: 56 days (?)

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2. Start a blog ($44.9K/month)

Starting a blog could be a fantastic side hustle or even a full-time business venture to help you make six figures as a software quality tester. By sharing your expertise and unique insights in software testing, you could attract an audience of fellow testers, tech enthusiasts, and potential clients. With 77% of internet users reading blogs and 409 million people viewing over 20 billion pages monthly, the potential reach is enormous.

You could monetize your blog through various streams like affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, and selling online courses or e-books related to software quality testing. A well-crafted content strategy and consistent posting routine could help you build a loyal audience and establish yourself as a thought leader in the field. By doing so, you could supplement your income while also enhancing your personal brand and career prospects.

How much you can make: $100 — $650,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $500 (?)

How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)

Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week

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3. Become an affiliate marketer ($55.3K/month)

As a software quality tester, you could leverage your analytical and technical skills to venture into affiliate marketing and significantly boost your income. By promoting products and services related to your industry, such as testing tools, software, or educational courses, you could earn a commission for every sale made through your referral links. The minimal upfront investment makes it a low-risk option, suited for those looking to test the waters of entrepreneurship.

Starting an affiliate marketing business could be a flexible and lucrative side hustle or even a full-time venture. Your knowledge of software and keen attention to detail could help you understand and articulate the value of the products you are promoting, driving more conversions. With effective marketing strategies, this could be an excellent opportunity to make six figures while expanding your professional footprint online.

How much you can make: $18,000 — $83,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $100 (?)

How long does it take to build: 150 days (?)

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4. Start an ecommerce store ($287K/month)

Supplementing your income as a software quality tester with an eCommerce store could pave the way to a six-figure salary. By leveraging the flexibility and lower overhead costs of an eCommerce business, you could reach a wider audience without the constraints of a physical storefront. The booming eCommerce industry, driven by consumer demand for convenience, creates an ideal environment for you to sell products or services online beyond the traditional confines of your primary job.

With basic technical skills and a knack for problem-solving, you could easily set up a website to showcase your inventory, integrate payment processing software, and manage shopping cart and inventory tracking systems. This side business would provide an additional revenue stream, potentially growing into a significant source of income that complements your software quality testing career. The lower initial investment and scalability make eCommerce a viable entrepreneurial venture to help you reach your financial goals more quickly.

How much you can make: $350 — $13,500,000/month

How long does it take to build: 120 days (?)

Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week

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5. Start a social media marketing agency ($116K/month)

Starting a social media marketing agency could be a lucrative side venture for a software quality tester aiming to make six figures. By leveraging your analytical skills, you could develop effective marketing strategies and use automation tools to efficiently manage client campaigns. This business enables flexibility, allowing you to supplement your income without compromising your main job.

You could use your expertise in testing to ensure the tools and platforms you employ for your agency are performing optimally, saving time and boosting productivity. Creating a compelling agency portfolio will help attract clients from various industries, providing a steady stream of extra income. Whether your goal is to finance personal expenses or save for future endeavors, this entrepreneurial path holds significant earning potential.

How much you can make: $1,000 — $500,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $7,500 (?)

How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)

Time commitment per week: Min. 30 hours/week

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6. Start a youtube channel ($146K/month)

Starting a YouTube channel as a software quality tester could open up multiple streams of income while establishing you as an authority in your field. By creating valuable content on software testing best practices, tool reviews, and tutorials, you could attract a wide audience of aspiring testers and tech enthusiasts, ultimately reaching the required milestones to join the YouTube Partner Program and monetize your channel.

Beyond ad revenue, a successful YouTube channel could lead to sponsorship deals, paid collaborations, and opportunities to create and sell premium courses. These additional income streams could significantly supplement your earnings, helping you work towards a six-figure income while sharing your expertise and passion with a broader community.

How much you can make: $800 — $1,000,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $750 (?)

How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)

Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week

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7. Start a career coaching business ($48.5K/month)

Starting a career coaching business could significantly increase your earnings as a software quality tester by leveraging your industry expertise to guide others. In this role, you could provide personalized sessions that focus on resume building, interview preparation, and workplace advancement, helping your clients achieve their career goals.

By offering flexible in-person or virtual meetings, you could build a client base that benefits from your specialized advice and accountability. This entrepreneurial venture allows you to monetize your speaking talents and human resources expertise, which can help you set your own schedule while facilitating real breakthroughs in your clients' careers.

How much you can make: $1,000 — $235,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $1,500 (?)

How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)

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8. Create an online course ($91.9K/month)

As a software quality tester, starting an online course could significantly boost your income potential and help you reach six figures. By developing engaging and informative video lessons and supplementary materials, you could share your specialized knowledge and skills with a global audience. This not only establishes you as an authority in your field but also provides a lucrative way to earn passive income.

Serving a growing market of eager learners seeking flexible, self-paced education, an online course allows you to identify and fill educational gaps. This entrepreneurial venture has relatively low startup costs and offers long-term, scalable income streams. Transforming your expertise into a valuable resource for others could be the key to both financial success and professional fulfillment.

How much you can make: $350 — $1,000,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)

How long does it take to build: 88 days (?)

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9. Digital products ($261K/month)

Starting a business by selling digital products could significantly boost your income as a software quality tester. Given your technical background, you could develop your own software tools, courses, or eBooks about best testing practices and methodologies, offering valuable resources to peers and newcomers in the industry.

Additionally, digital products are easy to create and manage, allowing you to leverage your expertise with minimal overhead costs. This flexibility means you could supplement your primary income through digital sales, potentially growing it into a lucrative side business or even a full-time venture. By tapping into the high demand for quality, specialized digital products, the potential for reaching a six-figure income becomes increasingly attainable.

How much you can make: $10,417 — $1,766,666/month

How much does it cost to start: $5,000 (?)

How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)

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10. Start a podcast ($97.9K/month)

Starting a podcast could significantly boost your income as a software quality tester by allowing you to share your unique insights and industry knowledge with a broader audience. By choosing a niche related to software testing, such as best practices, new tools, or industry trends, you could not only build a loyal following but also establish yourself as an authority in your field.

With a steady audience, your podcast could attract sponsorships and advertising from companies targeting tech professionals, thereby generating additional revenue. Moreover, your podcast could serve as a platform to promote your own services, consulting work, or even an online course, creating multiple streams of income and paving the way for potentially making six figures.

How much you can make: $400 — $1,020,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)

How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)

Time commitment per week: Min. 2 hours/week

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11. Become a social media influencer ($57.4K/month)

Becoming a social media influencer could significantly supplement your income as a software quality tester and help you achieve six-figure earnings. Since social media plays a crucial role in people's daily lives, brands are constantly seeking partnerships with influencers on platforms such as Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok. By establishing yourself as an expert in software quality testing, you could attract these brands by demonstrating your knowledge and providing valuable insights into the industry.

As a social media influencer, you'd have the opportunity to engage a broad audience and build a community interested in software quality testing. This can open doors to sponsored posts, affiliate marketing, and even paid collaborations with tech companies eager to reach your audience. Additionally, creating content like tutorials, reviews, and industry updates could position you as a thought leader, enhancing your professional reputation and generating additional income streams.

How much you can make: $2,500 — $166,666/month

How much does it cost to start: $800 (?)

How long does it take to build: 155 days (?)

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meet the author
Pat Walls

I'm Pat Walls and I created Starter Story - a website dedicated to helping people start businesses. We interview entrepreneurs from around the world about how they started and grew their businesses.