Career comparison
IT Support Specialist vs. Software QA Tester
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Software QA testers earn more at the median ($104,300 vs. $61,860), while IT support specialists usually get to work faster (3–6 months of training). IT support specialists help people solve computer, account and network problems: the classic way into IT. Software QA testers find bugs before users do by testing software thoroughly.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| IT Support Specialist | Software QA Tester | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $61,860 ($29.74/hr) | $104,300 ($50.14/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $40,980 – $100,540 | $61,440 – $167,010 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | -3.5% (a projected decline) | +5.7% (faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 39,700 | 10,700 |
| Typical entry education | Some college, no degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | 3–6 months | 6 months–4 years |
| Key credential | CompTIA A+ | ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level |
| Work setting | IT support specialists work for companies of every kind, managed service providers (MSPs), schools and government. | Testers work in offices or remotely at computers, often testing across devices and browsers.. |
What each job does
IT Support Specialist
- Respond to help desk tickets, calls and chats
- Troubleshoot hardware, software and connectivity issues
- Set up and configure computers, phones and peripherals
- Manage user accounts, passwords and permissions
- Install updates and support security tools
Software QA Tester
- Review requirements and user stories
- Write test plans and test cases
- Run manual tests
- Build and maintain automated tests
- Report and track defects
How they’re similar
Both careers involve problem-solving, desk work, and remote-friendly work. Both are part of the technology field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose IT support specialist if…
- I enjoy fixing tech problems
- I stay patient when people are frustrated
- I like learning new technology
Choose software QA tester if…
- I notice small details
- I like breaking things to find problems
- I can explain problems clearly
Still torn? Take the IT Support Specialist fit quiz and the Software QA Tester fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, IT support specialist or software QA tester?
Software QA Testers earn more at the median: $104,300 versus $61,860 for IT support specialists, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
IT Support Specialists typically train faster (3–6 months) than software QA testers (6 months–4 years).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects software QA testers to grow +5.7% from 2025–35, compared with -3.5% for IT support specialists.