SalaryByCity

Dental Hygienists vs Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers: Salary Comparison (2024)

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

Dental Hygienists

$94,260

Median annual salary

219,070 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 $8,350 more per year than Dental Hygienists professionals — that's 8.9% higher. At the 90th percentile, Dental Hygienists earns $120,060 compared to $166,960 for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers.

Salary Range Comparison

Dental Hygienists$66,470 – $120,060
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$60,690 – $166,960
$60,690$166,960

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileDental HygienistsSoftware Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersDifference
10th Percentile$66,470$60,690+$5,780
25th Percentile$80,060$79,520+$540
Median (50th)$94,260$102,610$-8,350
75th Percentile$102,920$131,870$-28,950
90th Percentile$120,060$166,960$-46,900
Mean (Average)$93,890$110,260$-16,370

Employment Numbers

Dental Hygienists

219,070

employed nationwide

Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers

199,800

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

Best Cities for Dental Hygienists

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$135,010
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$131,890
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$121,310
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$120,300
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$118,950

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: Dental Hygienists or Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers?
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $8,350 (8.9% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Dental Hygienists?
Dental Hygienists salaries range from $66,470 (10th percentile) to $120,060 (90th percentile), with a median of $94,260.
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 Dental Hygienists and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers jobs are there?
There are approximately 219,070 Dental Hygienists 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 Dental Hygienists?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Dental Hygienists has a median salary of $94,260 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