SalaryByCity

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

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

Nurse Practitioners

$129,210

Median annual salary

307,390 employed nationally

Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers

$102,610

Median annual salary

199,800 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Nurse Practitioners professionals earn $26,600 more per year than Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers professionals — that's 25.9% higher. At the 90th percentile, Nurse Practitioners earns $169,950 compared to $166,960 for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers.

Salary Range Comparison

Nurse Practitioners$97,960 – $169,950
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$60,690 – $166,960
$60,690$169,950

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileNurse PractitionersSoftware Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersDifference
10th Percentile$97,960$60,690+$37,270
25th Percentile$109,940$79,520+$30,420
Median (50th)$129,210$102,610+$26,600
75th Percentile$149,570$131,870+$17,700
90th Percentile$169,950$166,960+$2,990
Mean (Average)$132,000$110,260+$21,740

Employment Numbers

Nurse Practitioners

307,390

employed nationwide

Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers

199,800

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

Best Cities for Nurse Practitioners

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$225,730
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$220,330
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$164,520
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$164,510
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$162,470

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: Nurse Practitioners or Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers?
Nurse Practitioners professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $26,600 (25.9% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Nurse Practitioners?
Nurse Practitioners salaries range from $97,960 (10th percentile) to $169,950 (90th percentile), with a median of $129,210.
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 Nurse Practitioners and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers jobs are there?
There are approximately 307,390 Nurse Practitioners 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 Nurse Practitioners?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Nurse Practitioners has a median salary of $129,210 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