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The differences between automation test engineers and engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become an automation test engineer, becoming an engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, an engineer has an average salary of $92,077, which is higher than the $85,353 average annual salary of an automation test engineer.
The top three skills for an automation test engineer include java, python and jenkins. The most important skills for an engineer are python, cloud, and C++.
| Automation Test Engineer | Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $85,353 | $92,077 |
| Hourly rate | $41.04 | $44.27 |
| Growth rate | - | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 125,816 | 618,207 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.33 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
Automation Test Engineers are licensed professionals who work with clients on various IT or engineering-related activities. They are part of the growing automation industry. They create software solutions related to the automation of processes, and they work with clients to identify automation opportunities based on the existing software, hardware, and other processes. They have to understand their clients' needs and find the appropriate software solutions based on the clients' needs. Automation test engineers help design these software solutions. The majority of their work is related to testing these software solutions. They conduct quality checks to ensure that the software solution is working properly. They also check whether the software solution truly addresses the clients' needs.
Engineers are highly trained professionals who determine the feasibility of various projects, usually related to the construction industry. They are considered experts in mathematics and science, two disciplines that they need to use in designing and coming up with plans for projects. They should also be well-versed in different construction or industrial materials, and they ensure that appropriate materials are used for the project. They also ensure that the projects meet the requirements of the groups that hired them. They create spaces that would both address the needs of the end-users and the industry standards. They also ensure that the projects they make would stand the test of time.
Automation test engineers and engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Automation Test Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average salary | $85,353 | $92,077 |
| Salary range | Between $64,000 And $112,000 | Between $65,000 And $130,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Mateo, CA | Huntsville, AL |
| Highest paying state | California | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | Apple | Fort Bend County |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Automotive |
There are a few differences between an automation test engineer and an engineer in terms of educational background:
| Automation Test Engineer | Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between automation test engineers' and engineers' demographics:
| Automation Test Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 73.8% Female, 26.2% | Male, 86.3% Female, 13.7% |
| 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, 3.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 15.0% White, 67.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 5% |