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The differences between senior automation test engineers and senior 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 senior automation test engineer, becoming a senior engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a senior engineer has an average salary of $108,743, which is higher than the $97,825 average annual salary of a senior automation test engineer.
The top three skills for a senior automation test engineer include java, api testing and mobile testing. The most important skills for a senior engineer are java, python, and architecture.
| Senior Automation Test Engineer | Senior Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $97,825 | $108,743 |
| Hourly rate | $47.03 | $52.28 |
| Growth rate | - | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 109,068 | 343,200 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
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.
A senior engineer is responsible for overseeing all operations within a designated area. With years of experience and expertise, a senior engineer may take charge of establishing goals, deadlines, and budgets for a particular project. They must devise and implement strategies that would improve the quality of workflow and deliver significant results. Furthermore, a senior manager must also supervise a team of skilled engineers, leading them in the joint effort to reach the company's vision and mission, all while adhering to the safety standards and regulations.
Senior automation test engineers and senior engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Automation Test Engineer | Senior Engineer | |
| Average salary | $97,825 | $108,743 |
| Salary range | Between $78,000 And $122,000 | Between $82,000 And $144,000 |
| Highest paying City | Redwood City, CA | San Mateo, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Koch Industries | Roku |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Start-up |
There are a few differences between a senior automation test engineer and a senior engineer in terms of educational background:
| Senior Automation Test Engineer | Senior Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between senior automation test engineers' and senior engineers' demographics:
| Senior Automation Test Engineer | Senior Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 73.5% Female, 26.5% | Male, 89.1% Female, 10.9% |
| 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, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 17.1% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 5% |