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The differences between manufacturing test engineers and system 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 manufacturing test engineer and a system test engineer. Additionally, a system test engineer has an average salary of $100,751, which is higher than the $98,285 average annual salary of a manufacturing test engineer.
The top three skills for a manufacturing test engineer include test equipment, labview and troubleshoot. The most important skills for a system test engineer are python, test procedures, and C++.
| Manufacturing Test Engineer | System Test Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $98,285 | $100,751 |
| Hourly rate | $47.25 | $48.44 |
| Growth rate | 10% | - |
| Number of jobs | 64,188 | 131,653 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 42 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A manufacturing test engineer specializes in designing and developing test structures to ensure the quality of products according to the company's policies and standards. Their responsibilities include coordinating with the design team to determine test parameters, producing test documentation, troubleshooting, and performing quality assurance procedures. A manufacturing test engineer must also assess the existing test procedures to identify its strengths and weaknesses, implementing solutions as needed. Furthermore, they may assist the quality assurance teams in conducting tests, all while enforcing the company's policies and regulations.
A system test engineer is responsible for performing diagnostic tests on computer systems and applications, measuring its performance and efficiency, and recommending technical solutions as needed. System test engineers assist in system configuration and network infrastructure, ensuring that the deliverables meet the business requirements and project specifications. They should have excellent knowledge of the technology industry, as well as a strong command of programming languages, to automate scripts for quality check methodologies. A system test engineer coordinates with the technology team in improving the user interface, including navigation and server stability.
Manufacturing test engineers and system test engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Manufacturing Test Engineer | System Test Engineer | |
| Average salary | $98,285 | $100,751 |
| Salary range | Between $71,000 And $134,000 | Between $76,000 And $132,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Rosa, CA | Petaluma, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Nevada |
| Best paying company | Meta | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Professional |
There are a few differences between a manufacturing test engineer and a system test engineer in terms of educational background:
| Manufacturing Test Engineer | System Test Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between manufacturing test engineers' and system test engineers' demographics:
| Manufacturing Test Engineer | System Test Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.1% Female, 8.9% | Male, 80.3% Female, 19.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.5% Asian, 15.5% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | 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 | 4% | 11% |