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The differences between software quality analysts and quality assurance consultants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a software quality analyst and a quality assurance consultant. Additionally, a quality assurance consultant has an average salary of $86,486, which is higher than the $76,173 average annual salary of a software quality analyst.
The top three skills for a software quality analyst include regression, QA and sql server. The most important skills for a quality assurance consultant are QA, manual test cases, and regression.
| Software Quality Analyst | Quality Assurance Consultant | |
| Yearly salary | $76,173 | $86,486 |
| Hourly rate | $36.62 | $41.58 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 146,751 | 91,395 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A software quality analyst troubleshoots bugs for a software application. They are responsible for certifying the quality of applications and software. They also evaluate functional problems through regression testing, and they create test strategies based on project requirements. They interact with developers, project managers, customers, and stakeholders.
A quality assurance consultant specializes in recommending and optimizing quality-control procedures ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. They typically conduct research and analysis to identify the strengths and weaknesses of current quality control operations, implement solutions on problem areas, review policies and regulations, and coordinate with other staff to gather necessary data, analyzing them to find new opportunities for improvement. Furthermore, as a quality assurance consultant, it is essential to recommend solutions in adherence to the company's policies and regulations, including its mission and vision.
Software quality analysts and quality assurance consultants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Software Quality Analyst | Quality Assurance Consultant | |
| Average salary | $76,173 | $86,486 |
| Salary range | Between $59,000 And $97,000 | Between $67,000 And $110,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Redwood City, CA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | Genentech | Southern California Edison |
| Best paying industry | Non Profits | Finance |
There are a few differences between a software quality analyst and a quality assurance consultant in terms of educational background:
| Software Quality Analyst | Quality Assurance Consultant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Business |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between software quality analysts' and quality assurance consultants' demographics:
| Software Quality Analyst | Quality Assurance Consultant | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 52.0% Female, 48.0% | Male, 57.9% Female, 42.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.0% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.0% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |