Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between senior 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 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 $82,775 average annual salary of a senior test engineer.
The top three skills for a senior test engineer include test cases, python and java. The most important skills for a senior software development engineer are java, software development, and python.
| Senior Test Engineer | Senior Software Development Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $82,775 | $116,926 |
| Hourly rate | $39.80 | $56.21 |
| Growth rate | - | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 245,814 | 346,833 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 44 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
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.
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 test engineers and senior software development engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Test Engineer | Senior Software Development Engineer | |
| Average salary | $82,775 | $116,926 |
| Salary range | Between $63,000 And $107,000 | Between $87,000 And $156,000 |
| Highest paying City | Palo Alto, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Roku | |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a senior test engineer and a senior software development engineer in terms of educational background:
| Senior Test Engineer | Senior Software Development Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Computer Science |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between senior test engineers' and senior software development engineers' demographics:
| Senior Test Engineer | Senior Software Development Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 79.1% Female, 20.9% | 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% |