What Do 2022 Software Testing Survey Results Reveal About Industry Trends?

Survey Background

Recent layoffs at major internet firms have sparked widespread discussion among testing professionals. Coupled with the Chinese government's "New Ten Policies" encouraging a return to work, the employment environment is gradually recovering.

China's internet industry continues to evolve, driving transformation in traditional sectors. Beyond the still‑hot internet finance testing niche, areas such as big‑data testing, IoT testing, and AI testing are expanding rapidly, creating significant exploration space.

According to Gartner, the global software testing market is projected to grow 14% annually in 2023, suggesting a potential talent‑war in the IT sector.

Survey Purpose

The study analyzes the testing industry using real‑world data, breaking down both the characteristics of companies employing testers and the demographics of testers themselves. It aims to help enterprises draw actionable insights and assist testers in planning career steps at different stages.

Forms of Testing Work in Companies

Testing is primarily conducted internally on a company's own products and systems, accounting for 51.7% of cases. Testing on client sites follows at 28.1%.

Detailed breakdown:

Self‑developed product testing: 51.7%

On‑site client product testing: 28.1%

Third‑party evaluation agencies: 3.6%

In‑company client product testing: 15.1%

Other: 1.5%

These figures show that companies prioritize testing of their own products, which generate higher value and revenue, while outsourcing (both on‑site and offshore) remains a notable secondary option.

Common API Testing Tools

In 2022, Postman dominated the API testing tool market with a 52.7% share, praised for its low learning curve, built‑in code modules, cross‑platform support, packet capture, history saving, and multi‑device synchronization.

Other tools and their shares:

Apifox (new entrant): 18.3% (4th place)

Fiddler: 23.6%

Self‑written scripts: 18.9%

In‑house developed tools: 15.8%

JMeter: 30.7%

Charles: 14.5%

SoapUI: 18.3%

Other: 5.6%

Software Tester Salary Distribution

Monthly salaries between 8k‑12k RMB represent the largest segment at 37.7%, indicating an overall salary increase for testers. The majority work in major cities such as Beijing and Shanghai.

Full breakdown:

8k‑12k RMB: 37.7%

5k‑8k RMB: 21.6%

12k‑15k RMB: 17.6%

15k‑25k RMB: 12.5%

Entry Channels into Testing

Training programs are the most common pathway, accounting for 39.4% of respondents who switched to testing in 2022.

Other routes:

Direct entry after graduation: 28.3%

Transition from other industries: 20.3%

Shift from development roles: 12.0%

Types of Testing Work Performed

Manual functional testing dominates with a 69.8% share.

Top three testing types:

Manual testing: 69.8%

Test management: 50.6%

API automation testing (new in 2022): 41.8%

Other notable categories:

Performance testing: 33.8%

Test design & analysis: 26.0%

Web UI automation: 28.5%

User acceptance testing: 26.6%

Security testing: 19.8%

White‑box testing: 11.5%

Test framework development: 4.9%

Mobile‑specific testing: 12.2%

Manual API testing (optimized from 2021): 22.8%

Other (unit testing, integration testing, tool development, etc.): 4.0%

The survey provides a snapshot of the 2022 software testing landscape in China, highlighting where companies focus their testing efforts, which tools are preferred, how salaries are distributed, and the primary career pathways for testers.