SalaryByCity

Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers vs Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers: Salary Comparison (2024)

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

Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers

$76,290

Median annual salary

666,990 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 $26,320 more per year than Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers professionals — that's 34.5% higher. At the 90th percentile, Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers earns $115,280 compared to $166,960 for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers.

Salary Range Comparison

Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$47,640 – $115,280
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$60,690 – $166,960
$47,640$166,960

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentilePolice and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersSoftware Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersDifference
10th Percentile$47,640$60,690$-13,050
25th Percentile$58,980$79,520$-20,540
Median (50th)$76,290$102,610$-26,320
75th Percentile$97,190$131,870$-34,680
90th Percentile$115,280$166,960$-51,680
Mean (Average)$79,320$110,260$-30,940

Employment Numbers

Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers

666,990

employed nationwide

Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers

199,800

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

Best Cities for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$150,650
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$133,190
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$115,630
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$114,200
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$112,630

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: Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers or Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers?
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $26,320 (34.5% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers?
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers salaries range from $47,640 (10th percentile) to $115,280 (90th percentile), with a median of $76,290.
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 Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers jobs are there?
There are approximately 666,990 Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers 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 Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers has a median salary of $76,290 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