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Software test engineer vs quality analyst

The differences between software test engineers and quality analysts 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 test engineer and a quality analyst. Additionally, a software test engineer has an average salary of $85,338, which is higher than the $71,957 average annual salary of a quality analyst.

The top three skills for a software test engineer include python, java and test automation. The most important skills for a quality analyst are customer service, QA, and patients.

Software test engineer vs quality analyst overview

Software Test EngineerQuality Analyst
Yearly salary$85,338$71,957
Hourly rate$41.03$34.59
Growth rate--
Number of jobs243,382110,980
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Average age4444
Years of experience44

What does a software test engineer do?

Software engineers are responsible for coordinating the process of analyzing computer software programs. This process requires creating and implementing testing methods, documenting the test results, and providing recommendations for software improvements. They are also responsible for other tasks, including writing software testing procedures and creating testing scripts using different programming languages. A software engineer also collaborates with software developers and other staff members from the start and completion of a particular project. Having a bachelor's degree in software engineering, computer science, or information technology is needed to become a software engineer.

What does a quality analyst do?

Pumpers are individuals who take responsibility for setting the pumping system controls for product maximization. Their job requires them to set density, concentration, rate, and pressure. They do the operation and maintenance of the auxiliary equipment pumping oil. It is their duty to set the wells so they will function based on the production schedules and switch the oil flow between tanks. They even install the pumping systems.

Software test engineer vs quality analyst salary

Software test engineers and quality analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.

Software Test EngineerQuality Analyst
Average salary$85,338$71,957
Salary rangeBetween $63,000 And $115,000Between $55,000 And $92,000
Highest paying CitySan Mateo, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyAppleMeta
Best paying industryTelecommunicationFinance

Differences between software test engineer and quality analyst education

There are a few differences between a software test engineer and a quality analyst in terms of educational background:

Software Test EngineerQuality Analyst
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Most common majorComputer ScienceBusiness
Most common collegeCalifornia State University - Long BeachStanford University

Software test engineer vs quality analyst demographics

Here are the differences between software test engineers' and quality analysts' demographics:

Software Test EngineerQuality Analyst
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 68.6% Female, 31.4%Male, 40.3% Female, 59.7%
Race ratioBlack 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 Percentage11%11%

Differences between software test engineer and quality analyst duties and responsibilities

Software test engineer example responsibilities.

  • Balance risk, regulatory impact and business needs to achieve efficient and effective solutions for QC process improvement.
  • Manage entire Linux virtual machine farm utilizing KVM and Virt-Manager
  • Manage test case defect management reporting utilizing JIRA and Bugzilla
  • Develop UI automation test infrastructure using python and selenium.
  • Design test scripts using Java and participate in automation code-reviews.
  • Involve in integrating the test suites to Jenkins to execute them automatically after every successful deployment.
  • Show more

Quality analyst example responsibilities.

  • Perform API testing with different sub-systems.
  • Develop automation test cases, execute these test scripts from test lab and log defects in JIRA.
  • Create PL/SQL functions to calculate the special discount for corporate members while in the process of subscription.
  • Report and track bugs & third-party issues with a high degree of detail using the JIRA bug-tracking system.
  • Develop SQL, PL/SQL queries and procedures to verify successful population of data from application interface into the database.
  • Experience in assessing project requirements, development and test status, changes, coverage and risks using QC (ALM).
  • Show more

Software test engineer vs quality analyst skills

Common software test engineer skills
  • Python, 9%
  • Java, 7%
  • Test Automation, 6%
  • C++, 6%
  • C #, 6%
  • Regression, 4%
Common quality analyst skills
  • Customer Service, 10%
  • QA, 5%
  • Patients, 5%
  • Data Analysis, 4%
  • Corrective Action, 4%
  • Process Improvement, 4%

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