SalaryByCity

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

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

Financial Analysts

$101,350

Median annual salary

340,580 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 $1,260 more per year than Financial Analysts professionals — that's 1.2% higher. At the 90th percentile, Financial Analysts earns $180,550 compared to $166,960 for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers.

Salary Range Comparison

Financial Analysts$62,410 – $180,550
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$60,690 – $166,960
$60,690$180,550

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileFinancial AnalystsSoftware Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersDifference
10th Percentile$62,410$60,690+$1,720
25th Percentile$78,300$79,520$-1,220
Median (50th)$101,350$102,610$-1,260
75th Percentile$132,050$131,870+$180
90th Percentile$180,550$166,960+$13,590
Mean (Average)$116,490$110,260+$6,230

Employment Numbers

Financial Analysts

340,580

employed nationwide

Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers

199,800

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

Best Cities for Financial Analysts

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$134,470
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA$128,490
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$128,470
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$111,410
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH$110,450

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: Financial Analysts or Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers?
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $1,260 (1.2% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Financial Analysts?
Financial Analysts salaries range from $62,410 (10th percentile) to $180,550 (90th percentile), with a median of $101,350.
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 Financial Analysts and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers jobs are there?
There are approximately 340,580 Financial Analysts 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 Financial Analysts?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Financial Analysts has a median salary of $101,350 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