Software developers vs. Software quality assurance analysts and testers vs. Web developers
| Measure | Software developers | Software quality assurance analysts and testers | Web developers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage (May 2025) | $135,980 | $104,300 | $92,650 |
| 10th percentile wage | $82,460 | $61,440 | $48,100 |
| 90th percentile wage | $214,670 | $167,010 | $162,290 |
| Employment (May 2025) | 1,687,890 | 186,740 | 70,190 |
| Projected change, 2025 to 2035 | +10.2% | +5.7% | +3.8% |
| Openings per year | 95,300 | 10,700 | 5,300 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Bachelor's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Related work experience | None | None | None |
| On-the-job training | None | None | None |
| O*NET Job Zone (1 to 5) | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Self-employed share | 1.5% | Data unavailable | 17.5% |
| Top skills | Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Active Learning, Active Listening | Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking | Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Active Learning |
| Licenses and certifications in our library | AWS-CERTIFIED-SOLUTIONS-ARCHITECT-ASSOCIATE, GOOGLE-CLOUD-ASSOCIATE-CLOUD-ENGINEER | None listed | None listed |
Wages Verified data describe all workers in each occupation, not starting pay. Growth and openings are Official projection. Highlighted cells mark the highest median wage and fastest projected growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, National. May 2025 reference period. Published April 30, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, Table 1.2: Occupational projections, 2025-35, and worker characteristics, 2025. Base year 2025, projected year 2035. Published August 27, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: National Center for O*NET Development for USDOL/ETA, O*NET 31.0 Database (August 2026 release). Database release 31.0, August 2026; element dates vary by occupation. Published August 25, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.