SalaryByCity

Data Scientists vs Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers: Salary Comparison (2024)

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

Data Scientists

$112,590

Median annual salary

233,440 employed nationally

Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers

$102,610

Median annual salary

199,800 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Data Scientists professionals earn $9,980 more per year than Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers professionals — that's 9.7% higher. At the 90th percentile, Data Scientists earns $194,410 compared to $166,960 for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers.

Salary Range Comparison

Data Scientists$63,650 – $194,410
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$60,690 – $166,960
$60,690$194,410

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileData ScientistsSoftware Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersDifference
10th Percentile$63,650$60,690+$2,960
25th Percentile$82,630$79,520+$3,110
Median (50th)$112,590$102,610+$9,980
75th Percentile$155,810$131,870+$23,940
90th Percentile$194,410$166,960+$27,450
Mean (Average)$124,590$110,260+$14,330

Employment Numbers

Data Scientists

233,440

employed nationwide

Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers

199,800

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

Best Cities for Data Scientists

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$173,160
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$166,300
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$157,290
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$135,190
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH$131,830

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: Data Scientists or Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers?
Data Scientists professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $9,980 (9.7% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Data Scientists?
Data Scientists salaries range from $63,650 (10th percentile) to $194,410 (90th percentile), with a median of $112,590.
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 Data Scientists and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers jobs are there?
There are approximately 233,440 Data Scientists 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 Data Scientists?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Data Scientists has a median salary of $112,590 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