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The differences between functional testers and test analysts can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a functional tester and a test analyst. Additionally, a functional tester has an average salary of $76,647, which is higher than the $70,997 average annual salary of a test analyst.
The top three skills for a functional tester include java, test cases and web application. The most important skills for a test analyst are test scripts, test plan, and regression.
| Functional Tester | Test Analyst | |
| Yearly salary | $76,647 | $70,997 |
| Hourly rate | $36.85 | $34.13 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 37,146 | 91,308 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A functional tester's main responsibility is to validate the behavior of an application and analyzed the requirements of the clients. They are skilled in Java and database design for software development. The tasks they do are complex, including scanning IDs of the receiver and serial numbers on each unit, testing the units to make sure they work properly, and checking for any defects and damages. They are also trained in using numerical codes for passing or failing each unit and writing serial numbers on the production tracker.
The duties of a test analyst depend on one's line of work or industry of employment. In the information technology setting, a test analyst is responsible for testing computer software or hardware to ensure its quality before being released in the market. They participate in the development process to monitor the product specifications, review and analyze documentation, and create test systems, implementing them promptly and efficiently. As a test analyst, it is essential to produce progress reports, prepare presentations, and even give recommendations.
Functional testers and test analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Functional Tester | Test Analyst | |
| Average salary | $76,647 | $70,997 |
| Salary range | Between $61,000 And $94,000 | Between $56,000 And $88,000 |
| Highest paying City | Bellevue, WA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | Cerner | General Motors |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Finance |
There are a few differences between a functional tester and a test analyst in terms of educational background:
| Functional Tester | Test Analyst | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between functional testers' and test analysts' demographics:
| Functional Tester | Test Analyst | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 65.3% Female, 34.7% | Male, 55.2% Female, 44.8% |
| 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% |