Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between junior quality assurance engineers and senior 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 junior quality assurance engineer and a senior test engineer. Additionally, a senior test engineer has an average salary of $82,775, which is higher than the $69,173 average annual salary of a junior quality assurance engineer.
The top three skills for a junior quality assurance engineer include java, jira and regression. The most important skills for a senior test engineer are test cases, python, and java.
| Junior Quality Assurance Engineer | Senior Test Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $69,173 | $82,775 |
| Hourly rate | $33.26 | $39.80 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 107,440 | 245,814 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 82% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
In a manufacturing setting, a junior quality assurance engineer specializes in developing and executing quality assurance test procedures in adherence to the company's standards and regulations. They are typically in charge of reviewing production plans and designs, identifying the strengths and weaknesses of current methods, addressing issues and concerns, and performing corrective measures in a timely manner. Furthermore, as a junior quality assurance engineer, it is essential to maintain an active communication line with staff, coordinating every quality assurance activity.
A senior test engineer is an individual who is responsible for developing and implementing cost-effective methods of testing and troubleshooting computer systems and equipment. Senior test engineers must assist junior engineers in developing test plans and conducting testing activities on complex systems to meet program requirements. They aid in the areas of predictability, manufacturing processing, and improvement in the equipment and process. Senior test engineers must also develop proposal inputs and reviews documents generated by junior engineers.
Junior quality assurance engineers and senior test engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Junior Quality Assurance Engineer | Senior Test Engineer | |
| Average salary | $69,173 | $82,775 |
| Salary range | Between $53,000 And $89,000 | Between $63,000 And $107,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Palo Alto, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Hampshire | California |
| Best paying company | Interactive Brokers | |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a junior quality assurance engineer and a senior test engineer in terms of educational background:
| Junior Quality Assurance Engineer | Senior Test Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 82% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between junior quality assurance engineers' and senior test engineers' demographics:
| Junior Quality Assurance Engineer | Senior Test Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 61.7% Female, 38.3% | Male, 79.1% Female, 20.9% |
| 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% |