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The differences between associate testers and automation engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an associate tester and an automation engineer. Additionally, an automation engineer has an average salary of $92,597, which is higher than the $74,863 average annual salary of an associate tester.
The top three skills for an associate tester include test results, test data and java. The most important skills for an automation engineer are python, java, and PLC.
| Associate Tester | Automation Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $74,863 | $92,597 |
| Hourly rate | $35.99 | $44.52 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 35,159 | 133,941 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
An associate tester is in charge of performing quality assurance tests on materials, ensuring the quality adheres to the company's standards and regulations. In the information technology industry, it is their duty to develop software test structures, maintain records of all results, gather and analyze data, review documents, troubleshoot issues, and prepare comprehensive reports according to the company's protocols. Furthermore, an associate tester must maintain an active communication line with teams, coordinating for a smooth and efficient workflow.
An automation engineer takes charge of developing detailed design specifications and any other documents. Automation engineers develop automation software that is based on certain requirements for the involved process. They conform to local standards, international standards, and other process-oriented guidelines. Their duties also include the simulation and testing of automated machinery and processes. The must-have skills for this position include configuration software experience, scripting and coding expertise, certifications, and in-depth knowledge of technology.
Associate testers and automation engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Associate Tester | Automation Engineer | |
| Average salary | $74,863 | $92,597 |
| Salary range | Between $54,000 And $102,000 | Between $70,000 And $121,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New York | California |
| Best paying company | Morgan Stanley | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Retail |
There are a few differences between an associate tester and an automation engineer in terms of educational background:
| Associate Tester | Automation Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between associate testers' and automation engineers' demographics:
| Associate Tester | Automation Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 67.4% Female, 32.6% | Male, 87.0% Female, 13.0% |
| 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% |