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The differences between electrical test engineers and test engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become an electrical test engineer, becoming a test engineer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a test engineer has an average salary of $79,832, which is higher than the $74,723 average annual salary of an electrical test engineer.
The top three skills for an electrical test engineer include data analysis, labview and C++. The most important skills for a test engineer are python, C++, and C #.
| Electrical Test Engineer | Test Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $74,723 | $79,832 |
| Hourly rate | $35.92 | $38.38 |
| Growth rate | 3% | - |
| Number of jobs | 69,793 | 228,974 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 45 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
An electrical test engineer specializes in developing test structures to ensure the quality and efficiency of electrical systems and equipment. Among their responsibilities include understanding and identifying the needs of electrical projects, troubleshooting errors, gathering and analyzing materials to find defects and inconsistencies, conducting tests and examinations, and analyzing test results. Moreover, an electrical test engineer must also study and identify the root of problems, recommending and implementing solutions while adhering to the company's policies and regulations.
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.
Electrical test engineers and test engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Electrical Test Engineer | Test Engineer | |
| Average salary | $74,723 | $79,832 |
| Salary range | Between $56,000 And $98,000 | Between $60,000 And $104,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between an electrical test engineer and a test engineer in terms of educational background:
| Electrical Test Engineer | Test Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between electrical test engineers' and test engineers' demographics:
| Electrical Test Engineer | Test Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.4% Female, 8.6% | Male, 81.7% Female, 18.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.1% Asian, 14.5% White, 64.8% 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 | 6% | 11% |