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The differences between junior quality assurance 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 junior quality assurance engineer and a test engineer. Additionally, a test engineer has an average salary of $79,832, 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 test engineer are python, C++, and C #.
| Junior Quality Assurance Engineer | Test Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $69,173 | $79,832 |
| Hourly rate | $33.26 | $38.38 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 107,440 | 228,974 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 82% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| 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.
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.
Junior quality assurance engineers and test engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Junior Quality Assurance Engineer | Test Engineer | |
| Average salary | $69,173 | $79,832 |
| Salary range | Between $53,000 And $89,000 | Between $60,000 And $104,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Hampshire | California |
| Best paying company | Interactive Brokers | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between a junior quality assurance engineer and a test engineer in terms of educational background:
| Junior Quality Assurance Engineer | Test Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 82% | 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 junior quality assurance engineers' and test engineers' demographics:
| Junior Quality Assurance Engineer | Test Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 61.7% Female, 38.3% | 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% |