SalaryByCity

Mechanical Engineers vs Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers: Salary Comparison (2024)

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

Mechanical Engineers

$102,320

Median annual salary

286,760 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 $290 more per year than Mechanical Engineers professionals — that's 0.3% higher. At the 90th percentile, Mechanical Engineers earns $161,240 compared to $166,960 for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers.

Salary Range Comparison

Mechanical Engineers$68,740 – $161,240
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$60,690 – $166,960
$60,690$166,960

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileMechanical EngineersSoftware Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersDifference
10th Percentile$68,740$60,690+$8,050
25th Percentile$81,800$79,520+$2,280
Median (50th)$102,320$102,610$-290
75th Percentile$130,290$131,870$-1,580
90th Percentile$161,240$166,960$-5,720
Mean (Average)$110,080$110,260$-180

Employment Numbers

Mechanical Engineers

286,760

employed nationwide

Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers

199,800

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

Best Cities for Mechanical Engineers

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$147,730
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$145,640
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$128,660
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX$126,870
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH$124,160

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: Mechanical Engineers or Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers?
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $290 (0.3% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Mechanical Engineers?
Mechanical Engineers salaries range from $68,740 (10th percentile) to $161,240 (90th percentile), with a median of $102,320.
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 Mechanical Engineers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers jobs are there?
There are approximately 286,760 Mechanical Engineers 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 Mechanical Engineers?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Mechanical Engineers has a median salary of $102,320 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