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The differences between flight 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 flight test engineer and a test engineer. Additionally, a flight test engineer has an average salary of $90,538, which is higher than the $79,832 average annual salary of a test engineer.
The top three skills for a flight test engineer include control room, data analysis and test procedures. The most important skills for a test engineer are python, C++, and C #.
| Flight Test Engineer | Test Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $90,538 | $79,832 |
| Hourly rate | $43.53 | $38.38 |
| Growth rate | 6% | - |
| Number of jobs | 26,384 | 228,974 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A flight test engineer is primarily in charge of testing and overseeing aircraft performances, ensuring every aspect aligns with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other governing agencies' policies and regulations. Their responsibilities revolve around planning and developing efficient test structures and criteria, examining mechanical and electrical systems, coordinating with other staff to gather necessary documentation, assessing risks, and identifying an aircraft's strengths and weaknesses. Furthermore, as a flight test engineer, it is essential to analyze data and produce extensive reports that explain all test procedures and observations in detail.
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.
Flight test engineers and test engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Flight Test Engineer | Test Engineer | |
| Average salary | $90,538 | $79,832 |
| Salary range | Between $66,000 And $123,000 | Between $60,000 And $104,000 |
| Highest paying City | Palo Alto, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Illinois | California |
| Best paying company | Amazon | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between a flight test engineer and a test engineer in terms of educational background:
| Flight Test Engineer | Test Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Aerospace Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between flight test engineers' and test engineers' demographics:
| Flight Test Engineer | Test Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.6% Female, 10.4% | Male, 81.7% Female, 18.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 11.4% Asian, 10.9% White, 68.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | 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% |