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Job outlook for senior test systems engineers in the United States
Senior test systems engineer job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected senior test systems engineer job growth rate is 5% from 2018-2028.
About 18,200 new jobs for senior test systems engineers are projected over the next decade.
Senior test systems engineer salaries have increased 10% for senior test systems engineers in the last 5 years.
There are over 5,734 senior test systems engineers currently employed in the United States.
There are 207,651 active senior test systems engineer job openings in the US.
The average senior test systems engineer salary is $108,165.
Are senior test systems engineer jobs in demand?
Senior test systems engineer job and salary trends over time
Senior test systems engineer jobs over time
Senior test systems engineer job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,734 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 5,907 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 29,430 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 3,724 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 3,306 | 0.00% |
Average senior test systems engineer salary over time
Senior test systems engineer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $108,165 | $52.00 | +3.4% |
| 2024 | $104,601 | $50.29 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | $102,233 | $49.15 | +2.0% |
| 2022 | $100,240 | $48.19 | +2.3% |
| 2021 | $97,975 | $47.10 | +1.5% |
Senior test systems engineer jobs by state
Most common states for senior test systems engineers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 920 | 133% |
| 2 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 4,371 | 52% |
| 3 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 2,926 | 48% |
| 4 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 3,309 | 45% |
| 5 | Vermont | 623,657 | 259 | 42% |
| 6 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 2,792 | 41% |
| 7 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 2,304 | 41% |
| 8 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 1,579 | 38% |
| 9 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 1,173 | 38% |
| 10 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 505 | 38% |
| 11 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 388 | 37% |
| 12 | Delaware | 961,939 | 360 | 37% |
| 13 | California | 39,536,653 | 12,527 | 32% |
| 14 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,725 | 31% |
| 15 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 178 | 31% |
| 16 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 214 | 28% |
| 17 | Alaska | 739,795 | 202 | 27% |
| 18 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 1,831 | 26% |
| 19 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 544 | 26% |
| 20 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 492 | 26% |
Most common cities for senior test systems engineers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Severn | 4 | 9% | $108,777 |
| 2 | Billerica | 3 | 7% | $100,891 |
| 3 | Goleta | 2 | 6% | $113,207 |
| 4 | Marlborough | 2 | 5% | $100,988 |
| 5 | Melbourne | 3 | 4% | $86,809 |
| 6 | Belmont | 1 | 4% | $129,385 |
| 7 | Waco | 4 | 3% | $100,112 |
| 8 | Bellevue | 1 | 1% | $122,316 |
| 9 | Cambridge | 1 | 1% | $101,002 |
| 10 | Carlsbad | 1 | 1% | $109,046 |
| 11 | San Diego | 4 | 0% | $108,660 |
| 12 | Denver | 2 | 0% | $95,518 |
| 13 | San Francisco | 2 | 0% | $130,046 |
| 14 | Seattle | 2 | 0% | $122,418 |
| 15 | Tucson | 2 | 0% | $105,770 |
| 16 | Aurora | 1 | 0% | $95,455 |
| 17 | Cleveland | 1 | 0% | $89,001 |
Senior Test Systems Engineer job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of senior test systems engineer experts
Seattle University
University of Minnesota - Duluth
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Weber State University
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Bellingham Technical College
Duke University
University of South Alabama
North Carolina State University
Massachusetts Maritime Academy
Manhattan College
Eastern Washington University
University of Washington
Bakersfield College
What general advice would you give to a Senior Test Systems Engineer?
Julie Brandis: Oregon State University provides support in salary negotiation, also students can work with mentors who are familiar with company hiring practices and wage structures. If you have internship experience, that can help to boost your starting salary.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Test Systems Engineer?
Davide Masato: The high demand for plastics engineers facilitates maximizing starting salaries. Graduates with co-op experience enjoy a competitive edge. To grow both as engineers and team members, young professionals should actively seek professional development opportunities. Continuous learning and seeking advancement within the organization or externally are key. Pursuing advanced degrees or certifications, even remotely, enhances qualifications and marketability.
Christopher Misorski FASM
Brunswick Technical Fellow-Materials Product Development & EngineeringWhat Senior Test Systems Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Christopher Misorski FASM: While it is tough to predict the future with any accuracy, the best skill-set(s) for succeeding revolve around continuing education and learning what is possible with future materials or future manufacturing methods. Just remember, what you may learn at a conference or meeting may not be immediately relevant to your job, but down the road it could provide valuable solutions or insights into new problems that require “fixing”. In addition to continuing education in your field of interest, improving communication skills, both oral and written are important. Having the solution to a problem is useless unless the ideas can be communicated effectively and clearly to the audience that needs to hear the message. Remember, many in the audience are probably not materials engineers or any type of engineer potentially, so communicate at the appropriate level.
What will help Senior Test Systems Engineers increase their earning potential?
Christopher Misorski FASM: Maximizing salary potential at the start of your career is not a clear pathway generally. One way that you can be considered more valuable, and hence worth a better salary, is to have participated in a co-op or internship program with a company in your field. This experience gives employers some confidence that you were able to carry out assignments and thrive in a workplace environment. The employer that you worked for may be inclined to offer you a position upon graduation and you are now worth more because you have already proven to them your abilities. Even if they don’t offer you a job (no appropriate open position may be available) your ability to discuss your experiences with the HR recruiter or hiring manager at another company can instill confidence in your selection as a hire. Just remember, if you tell them you did a project, be prepared to explain it so it doesn’t appear you were just in the background of this project, just going along for the ride.
What Senior Test Systems Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Thomas Congedo PhD: That comes from your ability to focus on technical product of the highest quality, always seeking to truly understand the customer’s needs. For example, often a customer will phrase a problem by stating the solution he or she assumes. Taking the time to respectfully draw out the thinking further can make you the customer’s hero, and this makes you the person likely to be selected for the challenging and most rewarded assignments.
Jhon Smith
Associate Professor and Director of MS in Structural EngineeringSeattle University
Civil Engineering
What general advice would you give to a Senior Test Systems Engineer?
Jhon Smith: Do not be afraid to ask questions to your supervisors (although do not take it to an extreme and become demanding—show initiative). You get the fundamentals of engineering at school and you are equipped to use them but it takes a few years to feel comfortable. Engineering is a profession of practice and it is only through practice that you best learn it.
What Senior Test Systems Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Jhon Smith: Expand your network, join professional organizations and committees, become valuable in whatever company you work for, never stop learning, seek for opportunities for professional work, get your PE license. After these you will become more valuable naturally and could comfortably ask for a promotion or a salary increase because you’d know you deserve it.
What will help Senior Test Systems Engineers increase their earning potential?
Richard Davis: Engineering offers career opportunities across various industries, from technology and healthcare to infrastructure and environmental sustainability. With technological advancements and the increasing complexity of global challenges, such as climate change, food and clean water, and urbanization, engineers are in high demand to develop innovative solutions. For example, environmental engineers are crucial in developing sustainable solutions to reduce pollution and conserve resources. Engineering provides opportunities for creativity and problem-solving, making it a rewarding career choice for those who enjoy tackling complex problems. The global focus on sustainability and renewable energy presents exciting prospects for engineers to contribute to meaningful projects that positively impact society and the environment.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Test Systems Engineer?
Mishah Salman Ph.D.: An underappreciated skill that I think will become more sought-after is the ability to validate computer-made decisions and their shortcomings. With the growing prominence of AI use in design, problem solving, and decision making, the engineering field will need experts to error-check decisions made using these technologies. Sometimes there are unexplored gaps that these technologies overlook, and sometimes there are biases or inappropriate assumptions baked into AI-based results. Humans are inherently imaginative and creative. We excel at picking up on things that computer algorithms may miss. Talented experts that recognize and address these issues will remain invaluable in the workforce. Another indispensable skill that is often overlooked in engineering is effective interpersonal communication. Whether in a teamwork context, a leadership role, or a client interaction, competent communication is crucial. This can take the form of conversation, live presentations, written correspondence, and beyond. People that hone their communication skills are often recognized, and tend to be the individuals that are promoted to more senior roles.
What Senior Test Systems Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Mansooreh Mollaghasemi Ph.D.: Concurrent with building technical skills, they must build soft skills such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and leadership. These skills are often the differentiators between good and great engineers.
What will help Senior Test Systems Engineers increase their earning potential?
Megumi Usui: Even after obtaining a degree, it is crucial to recognize that continuous learning is a fundamental aspect of professional development in the workplace. One must cultivate an open-minded attitude and demonstrate a willingness to acquire new knowledge and skills at any time and in any context. Effective communication with colleagues and clients is essential for successful collaboration and project execution. It is important to understand that the professional environment is significantly different from the academic setting. In a company, the focus is delivering work that meets the expectations and standards set by the employer and satisfies the needs of clients, rather than merely fulfilling personal criteria. Furthermore, it is imperative to produce high-quality work consistently. Mediocre performance is unacceptable, and organizations will not hesitate to seek replacements if the work delivered does not meet their standards. Ensuring that your work is thorough, precise, and aligns with the company's objectives is critical for maintaining the position and advancing their career.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Test Systems Engineer?
Michael Denn: 1. Become the expert in whatever you do. 2. Understand how your work fits into the bigger picture and keep that in mind when you do your work. 3. Keep learning! Your engineering degree is not the end of your education! 4. Take stretch assignments and opportunities whenever you can.
What will help Senior Test Systems Engineers increase their earning potential?
Michael Denn: The answers to this question are largely the same as the answer to question 1. However, here are some additional points: 1. Excel in your job. Become the person everyone goes to for whatever type of work you do. 2. Develop and maintain a career plan. Make sure your assignments and tasks align with your plan. When you have the opportunity to change positions, keep you plan in mind.
Kyle Miller
Welding Technologies instructor - Pipe TradesBellingham Technical College
Precision Metal Working
What general advice would you give to a Senior Test Systems Engineer?
Kyle Miller: The advice I feel the most compelled to offer, based on personal experience, is to embrace the first few years in the field as a nebulous growth period. There is often a rush for graduates to 'realize their identity' in the field, at the risk of narrowing their potential in the trades. The first year or two is a great time to shake every hand and make every acquaintance possible. A lot of those interactions can help guide a trades-person along a pathway they didn't realize was possible upon their first steps into the working world.
What Senior Test Systems Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Jimmie Lenz D.B.A.: Engineering encompasses so many areas of modern life that it’s impossible to provide a comprehensive answer here. The training that engineers receive, both the technical and the applied nature, make these individuals quite attractive to all types of industries. Perhaps the most surprising to many people are the significant number of engineers employed in financial services.
Edmund Spencer
Associate ProfessorUniversity of South Alabama
Electrical, Electronics, And Communications Engineering
What Senior Test Systems Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Edmund Spencer: Look for jobs that have the highest technical content, and try to develop entrepreneurial skills early.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Test Systems Engineer?
Daniel Armentrout: The excessive number of baby boomer engineers are retiring at high rates and you as a new engineering graduate are desperately needed to make up for their loss in the workforce. You will face challenges in your career we could not anticipate or prepare you for in your education. You will have to adapt and continue to learn new fields of study which did not exist when you graduated. We have given you tools to learn and you will have to use those tools to remain relevant throughout your career. Find your place as an engineer when you can be effective, help humanity, and have fun. Plot a career path where you can utilize your strengths and challenge your mind to do new things. Contribute to making a better world and you will be able to enjoy immense satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Test Systems Engineer?
Alexey Gulyuk: In my opinion, being an engineer is to be a problem-solver. Regardless of the conditions and situations. As one of my colleagues and mentors said: 'I am an engineer, I can learn and fix anything' - this was a short comment regarding some questionable repairs offered by a car mechanic. For people who are curious, this is the perfect field to be at: you continuously learn new things about yourself and about the world around us. Being an engineer also means that you have access and able to interact with the smartest people: every day my colleagues share some new facts, and this challenges you and allows you to grow professionally. Live and learn in action. Lastly, being an engineer opens the path to make some real societal impact - in essence, most of the things that changed the world one day and are essential to us nowadays were created by great engineers like DaVinci, Rutherford, Marconi, Benz, or Wright brothers.... As of the dislikes. One can mention things like heavy workload and endless learning. Everything comes at a price, and, sometimes, engineers cannot balance work and life. Moreover, being surrounded by intelligent and straightforward people sometimes may be a challenge, and having scientific disputes can be something that drains your batteries very fast. In many instances, the bright ideas may hit the wall of lack of the resources available, while some scientists may not be that realistic with their budgeting expectations.... Lastly, setting up experiments require rigorous planning and following all the safety protocols - sometimes, this may impose some limitations on the activities planned initially. Again, live and learn and adjust according to the external conditions.... However, despite all challenges, many people will definitely find engineering rewarding and very opportunistic field to join and thrive at.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Test Systems Engineer?
Mark Whalen P.E.: A system engineer designs, develops, and manages complex technical systems across a large variety of industries. This can include defining solutions to system-level problems, plus allocating requirements, technologies and team member tasking at a project level, as well as communicating complex ideas and systems to key stakeholders.
An entry-level system engineer will typically apply advanced mathematical techniques to solve system-level technical problems, as well as installing, testing, and troubleshooting complex operating systems
What Senior Test Systems Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Mark Whalen P.E.: Many system engineers enjoy working across all technologies at a higher organizational level, and interacting with all types of technologists to manage and implement complex technical systems.
Many system engineers can feel challenged by their lack of depth of understanding of particular technologies compared to technical specialists.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Test Systems Engineer?
Dr. John Leylegian Ph.D.: The most important skills revolve around computer literacy. Know how to code. Know how to use industry standard software packages... and don't think that if you don't know a particular language or software that it will automatically exclude you from a new position. Engineers should love to learn how to do new things, and switching from one software to another is not a difficult thing. There is a learning curve, but knowing how to interpret results (and to detect garbage in - garbage out situations) is much more important. And find how to incorporate AI into your work. If used smartly and ethically, AI can be a great labor-saving tool. However, know that AI isn't foolproof, and again, be able to properly interpret results from an AI engine to avoid costly mistakes.
Christian Hansen Ph.D.
Professor and Department ChairEastern Washington University
Department of Mathematics
What's a day at work look like for a Senior Test Systems Engineer?
Christian Hansen Ph.D.: In the post-pandemic era, a typical workday for a recent graduate will likely involve some form of remote work. I predict that many businesses will benefit from the reduced cost of remote infrastructure compared to the cost of maintaining brick and mortar office space. Many new graduates will continue to spend their day on a computer while collaborating in teams via Zoom and other teleconference tools. People working in disciplines that have traditionally been "on the ground" will move towards more hybrid modes of work, reducing the need for travel and participating in face-to-face meetings and training.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Senior Test Systems Engineers?
Les Atlas: Most certainly an impact, a very strong impact. The best lesson for us is from the 1919 Spanish Flu pandemic. That strain of flu still circulates as a seasonal virus. Over 100 years laters, it is now considered a Phase 6 pandemic by the World Health Organization. While it is reduced due to current social distancing and mask wearing, the 1919 Spanish Flu virus still causes community-level outbreaks in multiple parts of the globe. Societal changes from this event of over 100 years ago are still with us.
In fact, they changed society. As is well-documented, after a high level of immunity was reached in the 1920's, the resulting labor shortage enabled workers to demand better living and working conditions, as well as better wages and public health care. As just one example of the societal changes due to the 1919 pandemic, the drop in the male labor force empowered male workers, and also changed the gender composition.
The aftermath of the 1919 pandemic was the start of women joining the labour force. In the United States, the proportion of women in the labour force rose from 18 per cent in 1900 to almost 21 per cent in 1920. In that same year, with the ratification of the 19th Amendment of the Constitution, the Congress of the United States guaranteed all American women the right to vote.
The current COVID-19 pandemic will certainly change the way we live, be it our mobility or the kinds of career options people have. After our current year-long experience in remote learning and work, will we go back to the inefficiencies of going to our office every work day? Or will remote work be acceptable, where one's residence will not be dependent upon the locations of employment. Will we avoid future hotspots of infection, choosing to instead reside and travel in areas where infection is decreasing? Will we prefer to travel on aircraft which are certified to be virus-free and frequent restaurants which are documented to be safer? Future marketing will likely make a sharp turn in this direction.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Test Systems Engineer?
Maryam Farahani: Thinking about the fields they want to experience or try. And to be intentional about their job search. The best advice is learning as much as they can about what company offers. Visualizing themselves in the next 5 years as a starting point. Do they want to travel a lot, or be in management positions? Do they want to be subject matter expert, or a hands-on engineer or technologist? Their goal may change as they progress in their career but having one makes a big difference in their career choices and keeping them on track.