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The differences between software automation engineers and software 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 software automation engineer and a software tester. Additionally, a software automation engineer has an average salary of $102,812, which is higher than the $78,580 average annual salary of a software tester.
The top three skills for a software automation engineer include python, java and C #. The most important skills for a software tester are test results, regression, and test scripts.
| Software Automation Engineer | Software Tester | |
| Yearly salary | $102,812 | $78,580 |
| Hourly rate | $49.43 | $37.78 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 229,709 | 208,853 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A software automation engineer specializes in designing and developing software and systems. In a company setting, it is their duty to identify the strengths and weaknesses of current systems and devices, conceptualize plans according to the company's needs, develop prototypes and test structures, and implement solutions against problem areas. They must also coordinate with software teams, provide technical support, and maintain extensive records. Furthermore, as a software automation engineer, it is essential to conduct regular maintenance checks, perform repairs and upgrades as needed.
The responsibility of software testers involves the quality assurance of software development and deployment. Software testers conduct manual and automated tests to make sure that the software is developed for its purpose. They remove the issues and bugs within a product before deployment to users. Their responsibilities include software and systems analysis, risk mitigation, and software-related issue prevention. They should have skills in automation, programming, social networking, logical thinking, and mobile and web technology.
Software automation engineers and software testers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Software Automation Engineer | Software Tester | |
| Average salary | $102,812 | $78,580 |
| Salary range | Between $76,000 And $138,000 | Between $61,000 And $100,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Sunnyvale, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | Netflix | Nordstrom |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Technology |
There are a few differences between a software automation engineer and a software tester in terms of educational background:
| Software Automation Engineer | Software Tester | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between software automation engineers' and software testers' demographics:
| Software Automation Engineer | Software Tester | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 78.1% Female, 21.9% | Male, 62.1% Female, 37.9% |
| 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% |