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The differences between configuration engineers and test engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a configuration engineer and a test engineer. Additionally, a configuration engineer has an average salary of $101,024, which is higher than the $79,832 average annual salary of a test engineer.
The top three skills for a configuration engineer include python, unix and java. The most important skills for a test engineer are python, C++, and C #.
| Configuration Engineer | Test Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $101,024 | $79,832 |
| Hourly rate | $48.57 | $38.38 |
| Growth rate | 21% | - |
| Number of jobs | 202,945 | 228,974 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 39 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A Configuration Engineer specializes in designing and developing computer systems and products. Among their responsibilities include understanding the company's needs, performing extensive research and analysis, coordinating with fellow engineers and experts, developing blueprints and prototypes, and creating test structures to be the basis for improvement. They may gather and analyze data from existing projects to identify their strengths and weaknesses, implementing solutions against problem areas. Moreover, as a configuration engineer, it is essential to monitor the progress of staff, all while implementing safety policies and standards.
Test engineers are professionals who observe and record the quality of products, which includes functionality, durability, speed, and safety. They are responsible for checking the materials and procedures thoroughly throughout the production cycle. It is their duty to run tests on different criteria to identify and fix technical issues. They analyze reactions to determine the causes of malfunctions and recommend potential improvements. Moreover, they test products before they are launched to ensure customers get high-quality and functional products.
Configuration engineers and test engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Configuration Engineer | Test Engineer | |
| Average salary | $101,024 | $79,832 |
| Salary range | Between $77,000 And $132,000 | Between $60,000 And $104,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | PayPal | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between a configuration engineer and a test engineer in terms of educational background:
| Configuration Engineer | Test Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between configuration engineers' and test engineers' demographics:
| Configuration Engineer | Test Engineer | |
| Average age | 39 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 80.6% Female, 19.4% | Male, 81.7% Female, 18.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.7% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 29.7% White, 52.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | 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 | 8% | 11% |