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The differences between performance 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 performance test engineer and a system test engineer. Additionally, a system test engineer has an average salary of $100,751, which is higher than the $97,965 average annual salary of a performance test engineer.
The top three skills for a performance test engineer include java, test results and jmeter. The most important skills for a system test engineer are python, test procedures, and C++.
| Performance Test Engineer | System Test Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $97,965 | $100,751 |
| Hourly rate | $47.10 | $48.44 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 44,502 | 131,653 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
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.
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.
Performance test engineers and system test engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Performance Test Engineer | System Test Engineer | |
| Average salary | $97,965 | $100,751 |
| Salary range | Between $75,000 And $127,000 | Between $76,000 And $132,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Petaluma, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Nevada |
| Best paying company | Apple | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Professional |
There are a few differences between a performance test engineer and a system test engineer in terms of educational background:
| Performance Test Engineer | System Test Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between performance test engineers' and system test engineers' demographics:
| Performance Test Engineer | System Test Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 81.1% Female, 18.9% | Male, 80.3% Female, 19.7% |
| 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% |