Scrum master vs QA manual: which tech career to choose in the USA?

Getting into tech does not always require deep, drawn-out work on hard skills, still less years of study before you start looking for a job. Scrum master and QA engineer are two in-demand, interesting professions that attract people starting out. The first is about managing development; the second, about testing. Both pay well, offer good prospects and come with attractive working conditions. Let's take them in order.

What a scrum master does

Let's start simply: what is a scrum master? Put plainly, it is someone who shapes how software gets built. More precisely, under their guidance a team works more effectively and in better step, and they do it within the Scrum methodology. You might think a scrum master is a manager, but we would call them a facilitator. They do not direct people; they create the conditions that help a team work productively and in an organised way. They are the person who steers things towards a result.

What a scrum master does:

1. Organises and runs the Scrum ceremonies
   This form of teamwork is very popular at US tech companies. Time is set aside in people's calendars for daily standups, sprint planning, sprint reviews and retrospectives — all of which fall to the scrum master. Through them the team stays in sync, examines how the work is going and improves its own processes.
2. Supports and coordinates the team
   Developers run into problems constantly: information about the project is missing, or other team members need to be asked to move faster. The scrum master helps find answers and makes sure such difficulties do not derail development.
3. Builds a culture of self-management within the team
   To make each individual and the project as a whole more productive, people need to understand Scrum and Agile. Teaching them is the scrum master's job.
4. Communicates with the product owner
   A scrum master stays in touch not only with the team but with the product owner, helping shape the backlog properly and write requirements as clearly as possible for everyone involved.
5. Improves how the team works
   Professionals do work to clearly written methodologies, but every team has its own strengths and weaknesses. A capable scrum master takes account of each of them and never stops improving how the team works together.

In short, everything a scrum master does serves one key goal: keeping development transparent, flexible and focused on results.

What a QA manual tester does in the USA

Defects in software affect its quality and whether it works correctly. A manual QA engineer imitates the behaviour of a real user in order to test the software. That sounds simple, but the range of tasks is fairly broad:

1. Studying the documentation, the specification and the business requirements.
2. Writing test scenarios.
3. Testing the interface, the functionality, the usability, the performance and the security of the finished product.
4. Describing the defects found in detail and writing bug reports.
5. After the developers make their fixes, checking the program again for new problems.

What the two professions have in common

They share a good deal:

• Both work closely with the rest of the team.
• Both can work remotely, freelance, at startups or with companies on a project basis.
• Both have a low barrier to entry.
• Demand for both is strong, particularly when your goal is America, Canada, Japan or another developed country.
• Both have room to grow. A junior QA manual tester can become a test lead or a product manager. A scrum master can move into agile coach, product owner or project manager.

When choosing where to start, personal preference matters. Some people find managing the development process more interesting; others are drawn to technical, analytical work. To finish, let's talk about one more important aspect of each: the money.

Comparing the salaries

A scrum master starting out earns at least $80,000 a year. A beginner in QA manual earns at least $60,000. The difference comes from the fact that a scrum master needs developed soft skills: leadership, communication and the ability to make decisions quickly under pressure.

A mid-level QA manual tester in the USA earns $75,000–$95,000 a year. Experienced testers earn more than $100,000. A mid-level scrum master earns $100,000–$120,000 a year, and above $130,000 with more than five years of experience.

Whichever road into tech you take, you have every chance of building a successful career. What matters is working out which work you will enjoy more and where your strengths lie. PASV can help with the training.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to train as a manual QA engineer?
At PASV you can go from scratch to junior level in just two months.

Can you move from QA manual into scrum mastering?
Yes.

Does a scrum master need to know programming?
No. A scrum master does not write code.

Which is easier to start with?
QA manual, since it requires no team management skills.

Can you become a scrum master in America with no tech experience?
It is possible but hard. If America is your goal, it is better to have at least a little experience working in tech teams.