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The differences between automation analysts and software testers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an automation analyst and a software tester. Additionally, a software tester has an average salary of $78,580, which is higher than the $68,695 average annual salary of an automation analyst.
The top three skills for an automation analyst include java, macro and business process. The most important skills for a software tester are test results, regression, and test scripts.
| Automation Analyst | Software Tester | |
| Yearly salary | $68,695 | $78,580 |
| Hourly rate | $33.03 | $37.78 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 82,291 | 208,853 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
An automation analyst is an information technology expert specializing in developing quality control procedures for systems and software. Their responsibilities typically include developing test structures to ensure the quality and efficiency of systems, generating codes and scripts, assessing existing programs to identify its strengths and weaknesses, implementing solutions in problem areas, and developing new programs. Furthermore, an automation analyst must manage teams, all while implementing the company's data security policies and the establishment's regulations for a smooth and efficient workflow.
The responsibility of software testers involves the quality assurance of software development and deployment. Software testers conduct manual and automated tests to make sure that the software is developed for its purpose. They remove the issues and bugs within a product before deployment to users. Their responsibilities include software and systems analysis, risk mitigation, and software-related issue prevention. They should have skills in automation, programming, social networking, logical thinking, and mobile and web technology.
Automation analysts and software testers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Automation Analyst | Software Tester | |
| Average salary | $68,695 | $78,580 |
| Salary range | Between $53,000 And $88,000 | Between $61,000 And $100,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Sunnyvale, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | BMO Capital Markets | Nordstrom |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between an automation analyst and a software tester in terms of educational background:
| Automation Analyst | Software Tester | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Business | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between automation analysts' and software testers' demographics:
| Automation Analyst | Software Tester | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 57.7% Female, 42.3% | Male, 62.1% Female, 37.9% |
| 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% |