Software QA & Testers vs Database Administrators
Median pay is about the same for both. Both usually start with the same education: bachelor's.
marks the higher pay or growth. Education, difficulty and the AI rows depend on what you want, so they are not marked.
| Measure | Software QA & Testers | Database Administrators |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | ||
| Median pay | $104,300 | $104,620, higher |
| Entry pay 25th percentile | $80,310, higher | $79,610 |
| Experienced pay 75th percentile | $133,180 | $135,460, higher |
| Outlook, 2025 to 2035 | ||
| Projected growth | +5.7% Growing fast, higher | -0.1% Declining |
| Openings a year | 10,700 | 3,300 |
| Getting in | ||
| Typical education | Bachelor's | Bachelor's |
| Difficulty modeled | 2 / 5 | 2.4 / 5 |
| AI | ||
| Displacement risk modeled | Very high | Very high |
| AI exposure modeled, percentile | 100th pct | 98th pct |
Where the skills differ
Only Software QA & Testers
- Monitoring
Only Database Administrators
- Active Learning
Both lean on reading comprehension, active listening, speaking, critical thinking, writing.
More comparisons
Compare Software QA & Testers with
Compare Database Administrators with
Pay and outlook: BLS (OEWS 2025, Employment Projections 2025-2035). Skills: O*NET 30.3. Difficulty, displacement risk and AI exposure are modeled estimates. How these numbers are made.