Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between senior software engineers and senior quality assurance 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 software engineer and a senior quality assurance engineer. Additionally, a senior software engineer has an average salary of $114,494, which is higher than the $106,802 average annual salary of a senior quality assurance engineer.
The top three skills for a senior software engineer include java, python and javascript. The most important skills for a senior quality assurance engineer are QA, java, and python.
| Senior Software Engineer | Senior Quality Assurance Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $114,494 | $106,802 |
| Hourly rate | $55.05 | $51.35 |
| Growth rate | 21% | - |
| Number of jobs | 338,989 | 254,258 |
| Job satisfaction | 3 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 39 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
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.
A senior quality assurance engineer oversees the testing procedures conducted in software development, ensuring technical accuracy and efficiency. They are primarily responsible for working alongside software designers and quality engineers, reviewing quality control reports, inspecting specifications, and devising particular test procedures. Moreover, it is also essential to troubleshoot issues and identify any inconsistencies or bugs. As someone with more experience in the team, they must supervise and serve as a mentor to the younger quality assurance engineers in the joint effort to develop efficient software.
Senior software engineers and senior quality assurance engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Software Engineer | Senior Quality Assurance Engineer | |
| Average salary | $114,494 | $106,802 |
| Salary range | Between $86,000 And $151,000 | Between $82,000 And $138,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Mateo, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | The Citadel | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between a senior software engineer and a senior quality assurance engineer in terms of educational background:
| Senior Software Engineer | Senior Quality Assurance Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | 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 software engineers' and senior quality assurance engineers' demographics:
| Senior Software Engineer | Senior Quality Assurance Engineer | |
| Average age | 39 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 81.4% Female, 18.6% | Male, 68.0% Female, 32.0% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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 | 8% | 11% |