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The differences between senior software engineer managers and senior 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 software engineer manager and a senior test engineer. Additionally, a senior software engineer manager has an average salary of $147,474, which is higher than the $82,775 average annual salary of a senior test engineer.
The top three skills for a senior software engineer manager include java, emerging technologies and software development. The most important skills for a senior test engineer are test cases, python, and java.
| Senior Software Engineer Manager | Senior Test Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $147,474 | $82,775 |
| Hourly rate | $70.90 | $39.80 |
| Growth rate | 21% | - |
| Number of jobs | 299,566 | 245,814 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 39 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A Senior Software Engineer Manager oversees software development and helps manage the team to accomplish milestones on a specific project. The Senior Software Engineer Manager's task is to guide, instruct, and junior train developers and ensure efficiency and quality. The senior developer also checks every detail of the software, order adjustments in problematic areas of the program, and does troubleshooting during finalization. The Senior Developer is the primary contact person in the software development team and advises the company on the proper path to take when planning a new software.
A senior test engineer is an individual who is responsible for developing and implementing cost-effective methods of testing and troubleshooting computer systems and equipment. Senior test engineers must assist junior engineers in developing test plans and conducting testing activities on complex systems to meet program requirements. They aid in the areas of predictability, manufacturing processing, and improvement in the equipment and process. Senior test engineers must also develop proposal inputs and reviews documents generated by junior engineers.
Senior software engineer managers and senior test engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Software Engineer Manager | Senior Test Engineer | |
| Average salary | $147,474 | $82,775 |
| Salary range | Between $106,000 And $205,000 | Between $63,000 And $107,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Bruno, CA | Palo Alto, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | ||
| Best paying industry | - | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a senior software engineer manager and a senior test engineer in terms of educational background:
| Senior Software Engineer Manager | Senior Test Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between senior software engineer managers' and senior test engineers' demographics:
| Senior Software Engineer Manager | Senior Test Engineer | |
| Average age | 39 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 86.1% Female, 13.9% | Male, 79.1% Female, 20.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.4% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 29.9% White, 52.5% 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% |