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The differences between senior testers and testers 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 tester and a tester. Additionally, a senior tester has an average salary of $84,660, which is higher than the $65,202 average annual salary of a tester.
The top three skills for a senior tester include java, test results and linux. The most important skills for a tester are java, test results, and web application.
| Senior Tester | Tester | |
| Yearly salary | $84,660 | $65,202 |
| Hourly rate | $40.70 | $31.35 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 36,535 | 52,595 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 46% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Senior testers are professionals who supervise junior-level testers that conduct testing for computer software for errors or any problems faced by end-users. These testers must attend discussion meetings to review and analyze business requirements and technical specifications with developers and business users. They must work with the quality assurance (QA) team to identify discrepancies and test the new application. Senior testers must also gather test results and document all defects to create the test completion document as per the requirement of end-users.
The role of technical testers is to test computer software for defects, bug errors, or any issues that may come across by an end-user. They mainly conduct product testing and prepare reports about any problems or recommendations for improvements. Other responsibilities include reviewing test plans, assessing and analyzing product specifications and requirements, and mapping out testing strategy. Technical testers also frame the test environments or support network management staff and system administrators. Qualifications for this position include knowledge of the database or structured query language, proficiency in Linux commands, and proficiency in defect tracking tools.
Senior testers and testers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Tester | Tester | |
| Average salary | $84,660 | $65,202 |
| Salary range | Between $62,000 And $114,000 | Between $42,000 And $99,000 |
| Highest paying City | Portland, OR | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Oregon | Maryland |
| Best paying company | Amazon | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Telecommunication | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between a senior tester and a tester in terms of educational background:
| Senior Tester | Tester | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 46% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | - |
Here are the differences between senior testers' and testers' demographics:
| Senior Tester | Tester | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 67.5% Female, 32.5% | Male, 63.0% Female, 37.0% |
| 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% |