Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between senior automation test engineers and senior software development 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 a senior software development engineer. Additionally, a senior software development engineer has an average salary of $116,926, 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 software development engineer are java, software development, and python.
| Senior Automation Test Engineer | Senior Software Development Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $97,825 | $116,926 |
| Hourly rate | $47.03 | $56.21 |
| Growth rate | - | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 109,068 | 346,833 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 44 | 39 |
| 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.
A senior software development engineer specializes in leading the efforts in designing and developing software and information systems, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Their responsibilities typically revolve around installing and repairing existing computer systems, conducting regular maintenance checks, troubleshooting, testing new designs, and performing research and analysis to identify the strengths and weaknesses of operations, improving them to achieve optimal performance. Furthermore, as a senior software development engineer, it is essential to monitor and encourage the team, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Senior automation test engineers and senior software development engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Automation Test Engineer | Senior Software Development Engineer | |
| Average salary | $97,825 | $116,926 |
| Salary range | Between $78,000 And $122,000 | Between $87,000 And $156,000 |
| Highest paying City | Redwood City, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Koch Industries | Roku |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a senior automation test engineer and a senior software development engineer in terms of educational background:
| Senior Automation Test Engineer | Senior Software Development Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between senior automation test engineers' and senior software development engineers' demographics:
| Senior Automation Test Engineer | Senior Software Development Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 73.5% Female, 26.5% | Male, 83.9% Female, 16.1% |
| 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, 4.3% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.0% Asian, 30.6% White, 52.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 8% |