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The differences between quality assurance testers and testers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a quality assurance tester and a tester. Additionally, a quality assurance tester has an average salary of $74,140, which is higher than the $65,202 average annual salary of a tester.
The top three skills for a quality assurance tester include manual test cases, regression and test scripts. The most important skills for a tester are java, test results, and web application.
| Quality Assurance Tester | Tester | |
| Yearly salary | $74,140 | $65,202 |
| Hourly rate | $35.64 | $31.35 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 82,396 | 52,595 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 46% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A quality assurance tester, also known as QA tester, has different responsibilities depending on the line of work or industry involved. In a computer development setting, they are in charge of working and coordinating with technical engineers. They have to conduct regular tests for new software and programs, identify inconsistencies, and find areas for improvement. Furthermore, a quality assurance tester must produce reports from the tests, which can be the basis of progress for further developments.
The role of technical testers is to test computer software for defects, bug errors, or any issues that may come across by an end-user. They mainly conduct product testing and prepare reports about any problems or recommendations for improvements. Other responsibilities include reviewing test plans, assessing and analyzing product specifications and requirements, and mapping out testing strategy. Technical testers also frame the test environments or support network management staff and system administrators. Qualifications for this position include knowledge of the database or structured query language, proficiency in Linux commands, and proficiency in defect tracking tools.
Quality assurance testers and testers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Quality Assurance Tester | Tester | |
| Average salary | $74,140 | $65,202 |
| Salary range | Between $55,000 And $99,000 | Between $42,000 And $99,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Maryland | Maryland |
| Best paying company | Apple | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between a quality assurance tester and a tester in terms of educational background:
| Quality Assurance Tester | Tester | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 46% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | - |
Here are the differences between quality assurance testers' and testers' demographics:
| Quality Assurance Tester | Tester | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 61.2% Female, 38.8% | Male, 63.0% Female, 37.0% |
| 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% |