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The differences between firmware test 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 firmware test engineer and a test engineer. Additionally, a firmware test engineer has an average salary of $84,319, which is higher than the $79,832 average annual salary of a test engineer.
The top three skills for a firmware test engineer include python, firmware and test automation. The most important skills for a test engineer are python, C++, and C #.
| Firmware Test Engineer | Test Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $84,319 | $79,832 |
| Hourly rate | $40.54 | $38.38 |
| Growth rate | 5% | - |
| Number of jobs | 25,699 | 228,974 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Firmware engineers are technical experts who work on programming various devices. They have extensive knowledge of coding and software development. Firmware engineers must understand several programming languages, with the specifics depending on their industry. Designing code and testing proper functionality are additional job responsibilities.
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.
Firmware test engineers and test engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Firmware Test Engineer | Test Engineer | |
| Average salary | $84,319 | $79,832 |
| Salary range | Between $62,000 And $114,000 | 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 | Technology | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between a firmware test engineer and a test engineer in terms of educational background:
| Firmware Test Engineer | Test Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between firmware test engineers' and test engineers' demographics:
| Firmware Test Engineer | Test Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.2% Female, 10.8% | Male, 81.7% Female, 18.3% |
| 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% |