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The differences between lead software testers and software quality 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 lead software tester and a software quality engineer. Additionally, a lead software tester has an average salary of $100,101, which is higher than the $99,902 average annual salary of a software quality engineer.
The top three skills for a lead software tester include test cases, software development and scrum. The most important skills for a software quality engineer are software quality, java, and python.
| Lead Software Tester | Software Quality Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $100,101 | $99,902 |
| Hourly rate | $48.13 | $48.03 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 229,582 | 279,437 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| 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 Software Quality Engineer ensures that the software of a company meets all quality standards. They are responsible for software development, inspection, implementation, testing, and verification.
Lead software testers and software quality engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Lead Software Tester | Software Quality Engineer | |
| Average salary | $100,101 | $99,902 |
| Salary range | Between $77,000 And $129,000 | Between $73,000 And $136,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Zscaler | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Telecommunication | Technology |
There are a few differences between a lead software tester and a software quality engineer in terms of educational background:
| Lead Software Tester | Software Quality Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between lead software testers' and software quality engineers' demographics:
| Lead Software Tester | Software Quality Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 67.5% Female, 32.5% | Male, 67.3% Female, 32.7% |
| 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% |