SalaryByCity

Database Administrators vs Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers: Salary Comparison (2024)

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

Database Administrators

$135,980

Median annual salary

64,770 employed nationally

Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers

$102,610

Median annual salary

199,800 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Database Administrators professionals earn $33,370 more per year than Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers professionals — that's 32.5% higher. At the 90th percentile, Database Administrators earns $209,990 compared to $166,960 for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers.

Salary Range Comparison

Database Administrators$81,630 – $209,990
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$60,690 – $166,960
$60,690$209,990

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileDatabase AdministratorsSoftware Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersDifference
10th Percentile$81,630$60,690+$20,940
25th Percentile$107,900$79,520+$28,380
Median (50th)$135,980$102,610+$33,370
75th Percentile$169,480$131,870+$37,610
90th Percentile$209,990$166,960+$43,030
Mean (Average)$142,620$110,260+$32,360

Employment Numbers

Database Administrators

64,770

employed nationwide

Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers

199,800

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

Best Cities for Database Administrators

CityMedian
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

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: Database Administrators or Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers?
Database Administrators professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $33,370 (32.5% 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 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 Database Administrators and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers jobs are there?
There are approximately 64,770 Database Administrators 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 Database Administrators?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Database Administrators has a median salary of $135,980 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