Analysis of the 2016 Chinese Software Testing Industry Survey: Demographics, Roles, Skills, and Trends

Introduction

This report is based on a 2016 survey conducted by 51testing, covering about 2,000 valid respondents. Although the sample size is small relative to the industry, the data provide useful reflections on the software testing profession in China.

1. Age Distribution of Software Testing Professionals

QA says the chart shows a steady increase of post‑1990 workers, while the proportion of those born in the 1980s remains stable, indicating that testing can be a long‑term career.

2. Gender Ratio

Women slightly outnumber men in testing, contrary to the common perception that IT is male‑dominated. This balance benefits both genders in collaborative work.

3. Educational Background

Most testers hold a bachelor's degree; the field does not require very high qualifications, but a college degree is common. Some successful testers have no university education, showing that ability matters more than formal credentials.

4. Years of Experience Distribution

Testers with 1‑3 years of experience account for the highest share (36%). The proportion of testers with over 5 years of experience has more than doubled compared with earlier data.

5. Job Position Distribution

The majority are titled “Test Engineer”, followed by “Junior/Assistant Engineer”. Specialists such as performance testers, automation engineers, and test architects remain scarce.

6. Salary Distribution

For 1‑3 years of experience, typical salaries range from 3k‑8k RMB; 3‑5 years: 5k‑12k; 5‑10 years: 8k‑15k. Salaries vary significantly by city, with second‑ and third‑tier cities offering roughly half.

7. Reasons for Choosing Testing

Ease of entry and high technical content are the most cited motivations, indicating that testing still has gaps compared with development in difficulty and technical demands.

8. Entry Channels into Testing

The majority enter testing directly after graduation; the proportion of developers switching to testing has declined, while non‑testing backgrounds still contribute a notable share.

9. Types of Testing Work Performed

Manual testing remains dominant, but performance, automation, and API testing together account for nearly 30% of activities.

10. Perceived Future of Testing

More than six‑tenths of respondents see a promising future, though some feel uncertain; the overall message is that continuous effort is required to stay relevant.

11. Technical Obstacles and Dissatisfaction

Unclear requirements are increasingly problematic, significantly affecting tester satisfaction.

12. Requirement to Submit Test Status Reports

Nearly half of respondents must submit status reports, while a minority never do.

13. Mobile Internet Testing Focus

Respondents are most interested in mobile automation and performance testing.

14. Cloud Computing Deployment Choices

The survey mentions SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS as common cloud service models, though many respondents may not be familiar with the terms.

15. Testing Types Needed for Big‑Data Applications

About 20% of testers consider security, algorithms, and distributed performance when delivering big‑data solutions; the majority do not.

16. Common Programming Languages

Having at least one programming language is seen as essential; 12% of respondents lack any programming knowledge.

17. Common Database Knowledge

Mastering one database system helps testers quickly adapt to others.

18. Desired Testing Skills

Automation testing is now a key hiring criterion; lacking experience in automation can be a deal‑breaker, while deeper knowledge of other testing techniques is also valued.

19. Ways to Improve Testing Skills

Most testers learn on the job; self‑study is common, but practical experience is essential for mastery.

20. Channels for Obtaining Testing Information

Information sources vary by personal preference; the data simply reflects these differences.

Conclusion

Readers are invited to share their thoughts on the 2016 software testing status report and to follow the QA testing account for more updates.