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The differences between lead test technicians and test 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 test technician and a test engineer. Additionally, a lead test technician has an average salary of $81,566, which is higher than the $79,832 average annual salary of a test engineer.
The top three skills for a lead test technician include java, QA and test strategy. The most important skills for a test engineer are python, C++, and C #.
| Lead Test Technician | Test Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $81,566 | $79,832 |
| Hourly rate | $39.21 | $38.38 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 51,060 | 228,974 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| 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.
Test engineers are professionals who observe and record the quality of products, which includes functionality, durability, speed, and safety. They are responsible for checking the materials and procedures thoroughly throughout the production cycle. It is their duty to run tests on different criteria to identify and fix technical issues. They analyze reactions to determine the causes of malfunctions and recommend potential improvements. Moreover, they test products before they are launched to ensure customers get high-quality and functional products.
Lead test technicians and test engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Lead Test Technician | Test Engineer | |
| Average salary | $81,566 | $79,832 |
| Salary range | Between $65,000 And $101,000 | Between $60,000 And $104,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Hampshire | California |
| Best paying company | Macy's | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between a lead test technician and a test engineer in terms of educational background:
| Lead Test Technician | Test Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Stanford University | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between lead test technicians' and test engineers' demographics:
| Lead Test Technician | Test Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 70.3% Female, 29.7% | Male, 81.7% Female, 18.3% |
| 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% |