SalaryByCity

Buyers and Purchasing Agents vs Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers: Salary Comparison (2024)

Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Buyers and Purchasing Agents

$75,650

Median annual salary

486,900 employed nationally

Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers

$102,610

Median annual salary

199,800 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers professionals earn $26,960 more per year than Buyers and Purchasing Agents professionals — that's 35.6% higher. At the 90th percentile, Buyers and Purchasing Agents earns $127,520 compared to $166,960 for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers.

Salary Range Comparison

Buyers and Purchasing Agents$46,460 – $127,520
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$60,690 – $166,960
$46,460$166,960

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileBuyers and Purchasing AgentsSoftware Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersDifference
10th Percentile$46,460$60,690$-14,230
25th Percentile$58,670$79,520$-20,850
Median (50th)$75,650$102,610$-26,960
75th Percentile$99,190$131,870$-32,680
90th Percentile$127,520$166,960$-39,440
Mean (Average)$81,720$110,260$-28,540

Employment Numbers

Buyers and Purchasing Agents

486,900

employed nationwide

Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers

199,800

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

Best Cities for Buyers and Purchasing Agents

CityMedian
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$103,560
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$102,140
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$93,320
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$85,980
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH$84,680

Best Cities for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$165,700
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$139,580
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$131,640
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD$127,940
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$126,430

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more: Buyers and Purchasing Agents or Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers?
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $26,960 (35.6% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Buyers and Purchasing Agents?
Buyers and Purchasing Agents salaries range from $46,460 (10th percentile) to $127,520 (90th percentile), with a median of $75,650.
What is the salary range for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers?
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers salaries range from $60,690 (10th percentile) to $166,960 (90th percentile), with a median of $102,610.
How many Buyers and Purchasing Agents and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers jobs are there?
There are approximately 486,900 Buyers and Purchasing Agents positions and 199,800 Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers to Buyers and Purchasing Agents?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Buyers and Purchasing Agents has a median salary of $75,650 while Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers earns $102,610. Consider job satisfaction, growth prospects, required education, and work-life balance.

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Data verified March 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS