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The differences between junior test engineers and senior software 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 test engineer and a senior software engineer. Additionally, a senior software engineer has an average salary of $114,494, 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 software engineer are java, python, and javascript.
| Junior Test Engineer | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $69,443 | $114,494 |
| Hourly rate | $33.39 | $55.05 |
| Growth rate | - | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 72,077 | 338,989 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 44 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
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.
Senior software engineers are experienced employees who would usually take the lead in projects related to software development. They are in charge of determining the needs of the organization, checking whether there are feasible solutions to challenges, and creating plans for the development of a software solution. They provide a sound analysis of data collected during the testing phase of the software and address any problems during the software development phase. Once the software has been developed, they then ensure that it works well and that it addresses the needs and expectations of the users.
Junior test engineers and senior software engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Junior Test Engineer | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Average salary | $69,443 | $114,494 |
| Salary range | Between $57,000 And $83,000 | Between $86,000 And $151,000 |
| Highest paying City | Jersey City, NJ | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Hampshire | California |
| Best paying company | Sony Interactive Entertainment America | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Retail |
There are a few differences between a junior test engineer and a senior software engineer in terms of educational background:
| Junior Test Engineer | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between junior test engineers' and senior software engineers' demographics:
| Junior Test Engineer | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 65.2% Female, 34.8% | Male, 81.4% Female, 18.6% |
| 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, 4.6% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 31.8% White, 50.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 8% |