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The differences between software test 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 test analyst and a quality assurance consultant. Additionally, a quality assurance consultant has an average salary of $86,486, which is higher than the $78,713 average annual salary of a software test analyst.
The top three skills for a software test analyst include test scripts, test results and regression. The most important skills for a quality assurance consultant are QA, manual test cases, and regression.
| Software Test Analyst | Quality Assurance Consultant | |
| Yearly salary | $78,713 | $86,486 |
| Hourly rate | $37.84 | $41.58 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 94,928 | 91,395 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Software test analysts negotiate testing criteria, conduct tests, and report the data gathered from testing. They collaborate with customers and vendors to clarify use cases for the test products. They use this information to formulate testing protocols and to ensure software meets users' expectations.
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 test analysts and quality assurance consultants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Software Test Analyst | Quality Assurance Consultant | |
| Average salary | $78,713 | $86,486 |
| Salary range | Between $61,000 And $100,000 | Between $67,000 And $110,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Redwood City, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | IDEXX | Southern California Edison |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Finance |
There are a few differences between a software test analyst and a quality assurance consultant in terms of educational background:
| Software Test Analyst | Quality Assurance Consultant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between software test analysts' and quality assurance consultants' demographics:
| Software Test Analyst | Quality Assurance Consultant | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 59.4% Female, 40.6% | 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% |