Career comparison
Software QA Tester vs. Web Developer
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. $92,650), while web developers usually get to work faster (6 months to 4 years of training). Software QA testers find bugs before users do by testing software thoroughly. Web developers build fast, accessible websites and web applications people love to use.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Software QA Tester | Web Developer | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $104,300 ($50.14/hr) | $92,650 ($44.54/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $61,440 – $167,010 | $48,100 – $162,290 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +5.7% (faster than average) | +3.8% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 10,700 | 5,300 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | 6 months–4 years | 6 months to 4 years |
| Key credential | ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level | Portfolio of projects |
| Work setting | Testers work in offices or remotely at computers, often testing across devices and browsers.. | Web developers work for agencies, tech companies, corporations, government and as freelancers. |
What each job does
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
Web Developer
- Build web pages and applications from designs and requirements
- Write HTML, CSS and JavaScript
- Develop back-end services, APIs and databases
- Make sites responsive, accessible and fast
- Test, debug and fix issues
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working with information, desk work, problem-solving, and working independently. Both are part of the technology field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose software QA tester if…
- I notice small details
- I like breaking things to find problems
- I can explain problems clearly
Choose web developer if…
- I enjoy building things on a computer
- I like solving logic puzzles
- I care about design and user experience
Still torn? Take the Software QA Tester fit quiz and the Web Developer fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, software QA tester or web developer?
Software QA Testers earn more at the median: $104,300 versus $92,650 for web developers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Web Developers typically train faster (6 months to 4 years) 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 +3.8% for web developers.