Database Administrators vs Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Database Administrators professionals earn $135,980 more per year than Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers professionals.
Top Paying Cities
Best Cities for Database Administrators
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $188,120 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $170,700 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $166,210 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $162,310 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $155,880 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Database Administrators or Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers?
Database Administrators professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $135,980 (null% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Database Administrators?
Database Administrators salaries range from $81,630 (10th percentile) to $209,990 (90th percentile), with a median of $135,980.
What is the salary range for Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers?
Salary data for Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers is not currently available.
How many Database Administrators and Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers jobs are there?
There are approximately 64,770 Database Administrators positions and N/A Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers to Database Administrators?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Database Administrators has a median salary of $135,980 while Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers earns $0. 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