SalaryByCity

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

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

Pharmacy Technicians

$43,460

Median annual salary

487,920 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 $59,150 more per year than Pharmacy Technicians professionals — that's 136.1% higher. At the 90th percentile, Pharmacy Technicians earns $59,450 compared to $166,960 for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers.

Salary Range Comparison

Pharmacy Technicians$35,100 – $59,450
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$60,690 – $166,960
$35,100$166,960

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentilePharmacy TechniciansSoftware Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersDifference
10th Percentile$35,100$60,690$-25,590
25th Percentile$36,920$79,520$-42,600
Median (50th)$43,460$102,610$-59,150
75th Percentile$48,580$131,870$-83,290
90th Percentile$59,450$166,960$-107,510
Mean (Average)$44,800$110,260$-65,460

Employment Numbers

Pharmacy Technicians

487,920

employed nationwide

Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers

199,800

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

Best Cities for Pharmacy Technicians

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$70,740
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$61,990
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$59,960
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$55,810
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$54,740

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: Pharmacy Technicians or Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers?
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $59,150 (136.1% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Pharmacy Technicians?
Pharmacy Technicians salaries range from $35,100 (10th percentile) to $59,450 (90th percentile), with a median of $43,460.
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 Pharmacy Technicians and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers jobs are there?
There are approximately 487,920 Pharmacy Technicians 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 Pharmacy Technicians?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Pharmacy Technicians has a median salary of $43,460 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