SalaryByCity

Electrical Engineers vs Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers: Salary Comparison (2024)

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

Electrical Engineers

$111,910

Median annual salary

188,790 employed nationally

Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers

$102,610

Median annual salary

199,800 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Electrical Engineers professionals earn $9,300 more per year than Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers professionals — that's 9.1% higher. At the 90th percentile, Electrical Engineers earns $175,460 compared to $166,960 for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers.

Salary Range Comparison

Electrical Engineers$74,670 – $175,460
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$60,690 – $166,960
$60,690$175,460

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileElectrical EngineersSoftware Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersDifference
10th Percentile$74,670$60,690+$13,980
25th Percentile$87,590$79,520+$8,070
Median (50th)$111,910$102,610+$9,300
75th Percentile$141,630$131,870+$9,760
90th Percentile$175,460$166,960+$8,500
Mean (Average)$120,980$110,260+$10,720

Employment Numbers

Electrical Engineers

188,790

employed nationwide

Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers

199,800

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

Best Cities for Electrical Engineers

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$186,920
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$163,840
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$136,820
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$135,480
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$134,900

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: Electrical Engineers or Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers?
Electrical Engineers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $9,300 (9.1% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Electrical Engineers?
Electrical Engineers salaries range from $74,670 (10th percentile) to $175,460 (90th percentile), with a median of $111,910.
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 Electrical Engineers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers jobs are there?
There are approximately 188,790 Electrical Engineers 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 Electrical Engineers?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Electrical Engineers has a median salary of $111,910 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