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The differences between performance test engineers and engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a performance test engineer, becoming an engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a performance test engineer has an average salary of $97,965, which is higher than the $92,077 average annual salary of an engineer.
The top three skills for a performance test engineer include java, test results and jmeter. The most important skills for an engineer are python, cloud, and C++.
| Performance Test Engineer | Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $97,965 | $92,077 |
| Hourly rate | $47.10 | $44.27 |
| Growth rate | - | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 44,502 | 618,207 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.33 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
A performance test engineer is responsible for conducting performance testing to ensure system capacity, reliability, and scalability. Typical duties that you will perform include working closely with the testing team in developing performance test cases and plans, analyzing test results, and handling bug fixes in collaboration with development teams. Additionally, you will be responsible for evaluating the root causes of performance problems and resolve them. You will also be responsible for developing automated test scenarios for performance testing.
Engineers are highly trained professionals who determine the feasibility of various projects, usually related to the construction industry. They are considered experts in mathematics and science, two disciplines that they need to use in designing and coming up with plans for projects. They should also be well-versed in different construction or industrial materials, and they ensure that appropriate materials are used for the project. They also ensure that the projects meet the requirements of the groups that hired them. They create spaces that would both address the needs of the end-users and the industry standards. They also ensure that the projects they make would stand the test of time.
Performance test engineers and engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Performance Test Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average salary | $97,965 | $92,077 |
| Salary range | Between $75,000 And $127,000 | Between $65,000 And $130,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Huntsville, AL |
| Highest paying state | California | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | Apple | Fort Bend County |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a performance test engineer and an engineer in terms of educational background:
| Performance Test Engineer | Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between performance test engineers' and engineers' demographics:
| Performance Test Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 81.1% Female, 18.9% | Male, 86.3% Female, 13.7% |
| 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, 3.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 15.0% White, 67.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 5% |