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The differences between lead test technicians and test analysts 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 test technician and a test analyst. Additionally, a lead test technician has an average salary of $81,566, which is higher than the $70,997 average annual salary of a test analyst.
The top three skills for a lead test technician include java, QA and test strategy. The most important skills for a test analyst are test scripts, test plan, and regression.
| Lead Test Technician | Test Analyst | |
| Yearly salary | $81,566 | $70,997 |
| Hourly rate | $39.21 | $34.13 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 51,060 | 91,308 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Lead test technicians are professionals who are responsible for leading a group of test professionals to test products and report their findings to engineers or product developers. These technicians are required to design and develop test plans and procedures so that they can validate the requirements of products. They are required to use various test equipment as well as to conduct maintenance to ensure the product's functionality and quality. Lead test technicians must also gather and analyze user feedback to improve the overall user experience and satisfaction.
The duties of a test analyst depend on one's line of work or industry of employment. In the information technology setting, a test analyst is responsible for testing computer software or hardware to ensure its quality before being released in the market. They participate in the development process to monitor the product specifications, review and analyze documentation, and create test systems, implementing them promptly and efficiently. As a test analyst, it is essential to produce progress reports, prepare presentations, and even give recommendations.
Lead test technicians and test analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Lead Test Technician | Test Analyst | |
| Average salary | $81,566 | $70,997 |
| Salary range | Between $65,000 And $101,000 | Between $56,000 And $88,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Hampshire | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | Macy's | General Motors |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Finance |
There are a few differences between a lead test technician and a test analyst in terms of educational background:
| Lead Test Technician | Test Analyst | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between lead test technicians' and test analysts' demographics:
| Lead Test Technician | Test Analyst | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 70.3% Female, 29.7% | Male, 55.2% Female, 44.8% |
| 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% |