SalaryByCity

Retail Salespersons vs Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers: Salary Comparison (2024)

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

Retail Salespersons

$34,580

Median annual salary

3,800,250 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 $68,030 more per year than Retail Salespersons professionals — that's 196.7% higher. At the 90th percentile, Retail Salespersons earns $47,930 compared to $166,960 for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers.

Salary Range Comparison

Retail Salespersons$25,600 – $47,930
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$60,690 – $166,960
$25,600$166,960

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileRetail SalespersonsSoftware Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersDifference
10th Percentile$25,600$60,690$-35,090
25th Percentile$29,140$79,520$-50,380
Median (50th)$34,580$102,610$-68,030
75th Percentile$37,850$131,870$-94,020
90th Percentile$47,930$166,960$-119,030
Mean (Average)$37,150$110,260$-73,110

Employment Numbers

Retail Salespersons

3,800,250

employed nationwide

Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers

199,800

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

Best Cities for Retail Salespersons

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$43,040
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$42,490
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$39,180
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO$37,500
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA$37,350

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: Retail Salespersons or Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers?
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $68,030 (196.7% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Retail Salespersons?
Retail Salespersons salaries range from $25,600 (10th percentile) to $47,930 (90th percentile), with a median of $34,580.
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 Retail Salespersons and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers jobs are there?
There are approximately 3,800,250 Retail Salespersons 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 Retail Salespersons?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Retail Salespersons has a median salary of $34,580 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