Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between software automation engineers and 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 software automation engineer and a test engineer. Additionally, a software automation engineer has an average salary of $102,812, which is higher than the $79,832 average annual salary of a test engineer.
The top three skills for a software automation engineer include python, java and C #. The most important skills for a test engineer are python, C++, and C #.
| Software Automation Engineer | Test Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $102,812 | $79,832 |
| Hourly rate | $49.43 | $38.38 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 229,709 | 228,974 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| 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.
Test engineers are professionals who observe and record the quality of products, which includes functionality, durability, speed, and safety. They are responsible for checking the materials and procedures thoroughly throughout the production cycle. It is their duty to run tests on different criteria to identify and fix technical issues. They analyze reactions to determine the causes of malfunctions and recommend potential improvements. Moreover, they test products before they are launched to ensure customers get high-quality and functional products.
Software automation engineers and test engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Software Automation Engineer | Test Engineer | |
| Average salary | $102,812 | $79,832 |
| Salary range | Between $76,000 And $138,000 | Between $60,000 And $104,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Netflix | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between a software automation engineer and a test engineer in terms of educational background:
| Software Automation Engineer | Test Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Harvard University | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between software automation engineers' and test engineers' demographics:
| Software Automation Engineer | Test Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 78.1% Female, 21.9% | Male, 81.7% Female, 18.3% |
| 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% |