Personal Financial Advisors vs Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
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 $470 more per year than Personal Financial Advisors professionals — that's 0.5% higher.
Salary Range Comparison
Personal Financial Advisors$49,990 – N/A
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$60,690 – $166,960
$49,990$166,960
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Personal Financial Advisors | Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $49,990 | $60,690 | $-10,700 |
| 25th Percentile | $70,620 | $79,520 | $-8,900 |
| Median (50th) | $102,140 | $102,610 | $-470 |
| 75th Percentile | $172,540 | $131,870 | +$40,670 |
| 90th Percentile | N/A | $166,960 | N/A |
| Mean (Average) | $160,210 | $110,260 | +$49,950 |
Employment Numbers
Personal Financial Advisors
270,480
employed nationwide
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers
199,800
employed nationwide
Top Paying Cities
Best Cities for Personal Financial Advisors
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $168,350 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $157,510 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $128,400 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $126,690 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $126,480 |
Best Cities for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| 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: Personal Financial Advisors or Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers?
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $470 (0.5% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Personal Financial Advisors?
Personal Financial Advisors salaries range from $49,990 (10th percentile) to N/A (90th percentile), with a median of $102,140.
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 Personal Financial Advisors and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers jobs are there?
There are approximately 270,480 Personal Financial Advisors 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 Personal Financial Advisors?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Personal Financial Advisors has a median salary of $102,140 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