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The differences between junior test engineers and senior engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a junior test engineer, becoming a senior engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a senior engineer has an average salary of $108,743, which is higher than the $69,443 average annual salary of a junior test engineer.
The top three skills for a junior test engineer include java, test results and C #. The most important skills for a senior engineer are java, python, and architecture.
| Junior Test Engineer | Senior Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $69,443 | $108,743 |
| Hourly rate | $33.39 | $52.28 |
| Growth rate | - | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 72,077 | 343,200 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
A Junior Test Engineer specializes in developing and implementing quality control tests that ensure product quality and efficiency. They work together with product design teams, determine test parameters, conduct research and analyses, establish guidelines, troubleshoot issues, develop strategies to optimize operations, and create test plans while adhering to the company's standards and regulations. A Junior Test Engineer typically works in a team setting, which requires an active communication line for a smooth and efficient workflow.
A senior engineer is responsible for overseeing all operations within a designated area. With years of experience and expertise, a senior engineer may take charge of establishing goals, deadlines, and budgets for a particular project. They must devise and implement strategies that would improve the quality of workflow and deliver significant results. Furthermore, a senior manager must also supervise a team of skilled engineers, leading them in the joint effort to reach the company's vision and mission, all while adhering to the safety standards and regulations.
Junior test engineers and senior engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Junior Test Engineer | Senior Engineer | |
| Average salary | $69,443 | $108,743 |
| Salary range | Between $57,000 And $83,000 | Between $82,000 And $144,000 |
| Highest paying City | Jersey City, NJ | San Mateo, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Hampshire | California |
| Best paying company | Sony Interactive Entertainment America | Roku |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Start-up |
There are a few differences between a junior test engineer and a senior engineer in terms of educational background:
| Junior Test Engineer | Senior Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between junior test engineers' and senior engineers' demographics:
| Junior Test Engineer | Senior Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 65.2% Female, 34.8% | Male, 89.1% Female, 10.9% |
| 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, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 17.1% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 5% |