SalaryByCity

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

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

Firefighters

$59,530

Median annual salary

332,240 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 $43,080 more per year than Firefighters professionals — that's 72.4% higher. At the 90th percentile, Firefighters earns $101,330 compared to $166,960 for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers.

Salary Range Comparison

Firefighters$34,490 – $101,330
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$60,690 – $166,960
$34,490$166,960

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileFirefightersSoftware Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersDifference
10th Percentile$34,490$60,690$-26,200
25th Percentile$44,180$79,520$-35,340
Median (50th)$59,530$102,610$-43,080
75th Percentile$77,410$131,870$-54,460
90th Percentile$101,330$166,960$-65,630
Mean (Average)$63,890$110,260$-46,370

Employment Numbers

Firefighters

332,240

employed nationwide

Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers

199,800

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

Best Cities for Firefighters

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$164,940
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$121,270
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$108,320
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA$105,250
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$102,220

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: Firefighters or Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers?
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $43,080 (72.4% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Firefighters?
Firefighters salaries range from $34,490 (10th percentile) to $101,330 (90th percentile), with a median of $59,530.
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 Firefighters and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers jobs are there?
There are approximately 332,240 Firefighters 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 Firefighters?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Firefighters has a median salary of $59,530 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