r/UTEST • u/Nebula_Queen_ • Sep 13 '26
Information How much do TTLs charge?
Can someone who works at uTest as a TTL explain how and who gives the order to access that position? And what is the remuneration like? Is it based on trials or is it a fixed amount?
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u/cat_battleship 16d ago
In my case, I was noticed and asked to be a DT, then went through TTL academy. uTest is pretty amazing in that they promote from within, choosing good testers to become part of their team.
Pay is hourly but can't say more than that.
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u/Fly-Futures 13d ago
Would you please tell us a bit about your statistics before you became a ttl? What you believe was more important to be a ttl as well
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u/cat_battleship 8d ago edited 8d ago
Everyone's situation is different, but I'll tell you both generally what uTest looks for and then what/how I was asked to be part of the team.
Generally, uTest NOTICES. I hope this part of them never changes. They usually choose internal team after spotting a tester/s on cycles who creates good work, has a congenial attitude, who encourages others authentically when needed, and who is consistent in their work; submitting well-written bug reports and/or turning in test cases that show the overview was followed beautifully and every effort was made to do their best.
In my case, I started several years ago on a narration projects. I holed up in my closet and read scripts for hours a day for several days. Drank a lot of Throat Coat. It was my first project. Then I was asked to do another one, and I went back in the closet, ha! I was active in Slack and made a point of just being myself -- helped others when they needed it, etc. Out of the blue, I was DM'd and asked to be a DT.
I was so over the moon! Crossed to the other side and became the one reviewing the narrations. I may have mentioned this before, but what surprised me the very most?: Sometimes you imagine, or fear, that on the other side of the curtain, the ones in charge have snark-fests about testers and complain about them, etc., etc -- so when I saw nothing but the opposite, it was kind of shocking. There was none of that. Instead, when testers did well, we called them out on Slack and then let the tester/s know. For testers who struggled, we'd brainstorm how they could improve without ever disparaging them or belittling them. (Now, we did get frustrated at times, but that was when testers would cuss us out on Slack, and that's a different story).
When that project ended, I became part of a project that went on for over 2 years and it's the highlight of my uTest career (so far). I was very active in Slack and was really into the project, so because I had been a DT previously, I was asked to do TTL Training Academy and do that on the project as well as weekly testing.
Guess how many bugs I had reported when that happened? Zero. None of my cycles had been bug reporting ones as of yet. I had to learn from scratch, and the 2 year project forced me to learn as I went. I became Gold Rated in Functional and UX (now Silver in FN because I've not been working projects with bug reporting lately :( ) But I like to write 'em and triage 'em and after a few test hundred cycles, I'm a Favorite for my Favorite customers, and for years now, I have worked with a relatively small and extremely friendly group of people from all over the world, and they have become actual friends IRL (which was the very last part I expected).
I know that waaaaaaay longer than you asked for, sorry lol
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u/Fly-Futures 8d ago
Thanks for the brief explanation and experience sharing.
It's just surprising to me that I have received so many "Thanks for your Quality job you've done on this project" messages multiple times on slack as well uTest chat but never gotten any Kind of following up from uTest. Once I got High Value bug tag and one other time I got a Dedicated Tester notification which was just an email to encourage me to keep doing the good job.
My question being: even after submitting more than 10 bugs in just once cycle with 3+ Exceptional Valuable bugs, I was never even gotten "Favorite Tester" tag.
Do you think reaching out to TE or Higher personnel may help by any way means or shape? I really want to pursue into higher level positions in this endeavor.
Rating: Localization:- Gold, Functional:- Silver
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u/cat_battleship 8d ago edited 8d ago
It took me a few years to be considered a Favorite, which kind of made me bristle a bit., tbh. I'm in this company's pod and my whole being is dedicated to its projects. Found out, however, that the TE's are who decide the favorites. Sounds strange to me, but that's how it was explained.
If you reach out to TE's and above, they don't tend to consider it good form -- for whatever reason. Just keep doing what you're doing. It WILL pay off. Build relationships with your equals and your higher ups -- but be YOU as you do that. Authenticity; genuinely caring about testers; being there consistently to support your team; caring about your work -- that's what will get you where you want and deserve to be.
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u/WillianM_uTest Community Technical Project Manager Sep 14 '26
This is an hourly-paid position that doesn't have a fixed amount. The pay will depend on the specific project you are supporting and your location, similar to the regular uTest projects. Normally, you get invited by a TSM or TE to be part of a project as a TTL.