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The differences between lead software testers and senior software engineers lead can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a lead software tester and a senior software engineer lead. Additionally, a senior software engineer lead has an average salary of $129,060, which is higher than the $100,101 average annual salary of a lead software tester.
The top three skills for a lead software tester include test cases, software development and scrum. The most important skills for a senior software engineer lead are java, architecture, and software development.
| Lead Software Tester | Senior Software Engineer Lead | |
| Yearly salary | $100,101 | $129,060 |
| Hourly rate | $48.13 | $62.05 |
| Growth rate | - | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 229,582 | 322,973 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Average age | 44 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A software tester is responsible for performing manual and automated tests to ensure that all software meets quality standards. Their tasks include analyzing and reviewing software and creating solutions for possible risk. Software testing is a process of verifying a computer program and determining if it meets guidelines. This career is essential because it is a significant factor in producing a standardized product.
A senior software engineer lead is responsible for overseeing the software creation process. They analyze projects, rectify errors, interpret project requirements, and develop detailed designs. They must create reports of all weekly tasks and ensure best practices are followed by their team.
Lead software testers and senior software engineers lead have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Lead Software Tester | Senior Software Engineer Lead | |
| Average salary | $100,101 | $129,060 |
| Salary range | Between $77,000 And $129,000 | Between $96,000 And $173,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Zscaler | PitchBook Data |
| Best paying industry | Telecommunication | Finance |
There are a few differences between a lead software tester and a senior software engineer lead in terms of educational background:
| Lead Software Tester | Senior Software Engineer Lead | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between lead software testers' and senior software engineers lead' demographics:
| Lead Software Tester | Senior Software Engineer Lead | |
| Average age | 44 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 67.5% Female, 32.5% | Male, 79.0% Female, 21.0% |
| 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, 4.5% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 33.4% White, 48.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 8% |