SalaryByCity

Project Management Specialists vs Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers: Salary Comparison (2024)

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

Project Management Specialists

$100,750

Median annual salary

1,006,160 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 $1,860 more per year than Project Management Specialists professionals — that's 1.8% higher. At the 90th percentile, Project Management Specialists earns $165,790 compared to $166,960 for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers.

Salary Range Comparison

Project Management Specialists$59,830 – $165,790
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$60,690 – $166,960
$59,830$166,960

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileProject Management SpecialistsSoftware Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersDifference
10th Percentile$59,830$60,690$-860
25th Percentile$76,950$79,520$-2,570
Median (50th)$100,750$102,610$-1,860
75th Percentile$131,660$131,870$-210
90th Percentile$165,790$166,960$-1,170
Mean (Average)$108,100$110,260$-2,160

Employment Numbers

Project Management Specialists

1,006,160

employed nationwide

Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers

199,800

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

Best Cities for Project Management Specialists

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$136,250
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$132,530
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$125,390
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$123,670
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA$121,680

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: Project Management Specialists or Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers?
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $1,860 (1.8% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Project Management Specialists?
Project Management Specialists salaries range from $59,830 (10th percentile) to $165,790 (90th percentile), with a median of $100,750.
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 Project Management Specialists and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers jobs are there?
There are approximately 1,006,160 Project Management Specialists 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 Project Management Specialists?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Project Management Specialists has a median salary of $100,750 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