SalaryByCity

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

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

Medical Assistants

$44,200

Median annual salary

793,460 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 $58,410 more per year than Medical Assistants professionals — that's 132.1% higher. At the 90th percentile, Medical Assistants earns $57,830 compared to $166,960 for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers.

Salary Range Comparison

Medical Assistants$35,020 – $57,830
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$60,690 – $166,960
$35,020$166,960

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileMedical AssistantsSoftware Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersDifference
10th Percentile$35,020$60,690$-25,670
25th Percentile$37,610$79,520$-41,910
Median (50th)$44,200$102,610$-58,410
75th Percentile$48,160$131,870$-83,710
90th Percentile$57,830$166,960$-109,130
Mean (Average)$44,720$110,260$-65,540

Employment Numbers

Medical Assistants

793,460

employed nationwide

Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers

199,800

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

Best Cities for Medical Assistants

CityMedian
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$62,570
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$62,290
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$59,910
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$58,850
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$52,040

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: Medical Assistants or Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers?
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $58,410 (132.1% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Medical Assistants?
Medical Assistants salaries range from $35,020 (10th percentile) to $57,830 (90th percentile), with a median of $44,200.
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 Medical Assistants and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers jobs are there?
There are approximately 793,460 Medical Assistants 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 Medical Assistants?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Medical Assistants has a median salary of $44,200 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