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The differences between senior automation test engineers and senior software 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 engineer. Additionally, a senior software engineer has an average salary of $114,494, 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 engineer are java, python, and javascript.
| Senior Automation Test Engineer | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $97,825 | $114,494 |
| Hourly rate | $47.03 | $55.05 |
| Growth rate | - | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 109,068 | 338,989 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| 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.
Senior software engineers are experienced employees who would usually take the lead in projects related to software development. They are in charge of determining the needs of the organization, checking whether there are feasible solutions to challenges, and creating plans for the development of a software solution. They provide a sound analysis of data collected during the testing phase of the software and address any problems during the software development phase. Once the software has been developed, they then ensure that it works well and that it addresses the needs and expectations of the users.
Senior automation test engineers and senior software engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Automation Test Engineer | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Average salary | $97,825 | $114,494 |
| Salary range | Between $78,000 And $122,000 | Between $86,000 And $151,000 |
| Highest paying City | Redwood City, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Koch Industries | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Retail |
There are a few differences between a senior automation test engineer and a senior software engineer in terms of educational background:
| Senior Automation Test Engineer | Senior Software 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 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between senior automation test engineers' and senior software engineers' demographics:
| Senior Automation Test Engineer | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 73.5% Female, 26.5% | Male, 81.4% Female, 18.6% |
| 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, 4.6% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 31.8% White, 50.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 8% |