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The differences between senior automation test engineers and automation 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 senior automation test engineer and an automation engineer. Additionally, a senior automation test engineer has an average salary of $97,825, which is higher than the $92,597 average annual salary of an automation engineer.
The top three skills for a senior automation test engineer include java, api testing and mobile testing. The most important skills for an automation engineer are python, java, and PLC.
| Senior Automation Test Engineer | Automation Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $97,825 | $92,597 |
| Hourly rate | $47.03 | $44.52 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 109,068 | 133,941 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A senior automation test engineer is responsible for using innovative engineering methods to automate the systems within the company. They must troubleshoot various problems related to automation and test different plans for large-scale projects. They should be able to design effective systems that interact with client-side functionality.
An automation engineer takes charge of developing detailed design specifications and any other documents. Automation engineers develop automation software that is based on certain requirements for the involved process. They conform to local standards, international standards, and other process-oriented guidelines. Their duties also include the simulation and testing of automated machinery and processes. The must-have skills for this position include configuration software experience, scripting and coding expertise, certifications, and in-depth knowledge of technology.
Senior automation test engineers and automation engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Automation Test Engineer | Automation Engineer | |
| Average salary | $97,825 | $92,597 |
| Salary range | Between $78,000 And $122,000 | Between $70,000 And $121,000 |
| Highest paying City | Redwood City, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Koch Industries | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Retail |
There are a few differences between a senior automation test engineer and an automation engineer in terms of educational background:
| Senior Automation Test Engineer | Automation Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between senior automation test engineers' and automation engineers' demographics:
| Senior Automation Test Engineer | Automation Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 73.5% Female, 26.5% | Male, 87.0% Female, 13.0% |
| 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% |