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The differences between senior automation test engineers and software test 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 software test engineer. Additionally, a senior automation test engineer has an average salary of $97,825, which is higher than the $85,338 average annual salary of a software 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 software test engineer are python, java, and test automation.
| Senior Automation Test Engineer | Software Test Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $97,825 | $85,338 |
| Hourly rate | $47.03 | $41.03 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 109,068 | 243,382 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| 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.
Software engineers are responsible for coordinating the process of analyzing computer software programs. This process requires creating and implementing testing methods, documenting the test results, and providing recommendations for software improvements. They are also responsible for other tasks, including writing software testing procedures and creating testing scripts using different programming languages. A software engineer also collaborates with software developers and other staff members from the start and completion of a particular project. Having a bachelor's degree in software engineering, computer science, or information technology is needed to become a software engineer.
Senior automation test engineers and software test engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Automation Test Engineer | Software Test Engineer | |
| Average salary | $97,825 | $85,338 |
| Salary range | Between $78,000 And $122,000 | Between $63,000 And $115,000 |
| Highest paying City | Redwood City, CA | San Mateo, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Koch Industries | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between a senior automation test engineer and a software test engineer in terms of educational background:
| Senior Automation Test Engineer | Software Test Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between senior automation test engineers' and software test engineers' demographics:
| Senior Automation Test Engineer | Software Test Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 73.5% Female, 26.5% | Male, 68.6% Female, 31.4% |
| 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% |