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The differences between software testers and software developers 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 tester and a software developer. Additionally, a software developer has an average salary of $87,521, which is higher than the $78,580 average annual salary of a software tester.
The top three skills for a software tester include test results, regression and test scripts. The most important skills for a software developer are java, python, and C++.
| Software Tester | Software Developer | |
| Yearly salary | $78,580 | $87,521 |
| Hourly rate | $37.78 | $42.08 |
| Growth rate | - | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 208,853 | 294,329 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 44 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
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.
A software developer is responsible for designing application systems to support the user and business' needs. Duties of a software developer include testing software codes, performing diagnostic programs and troubleshooting, interpreting system data and establishing efficient parameters, and ensuring the compatibility of the systems. A software developer must have an excellent knowledge of computer programs and programming languages to understand its complexities, especially on detecting system defects and malfunctions. A software developer must have strong attention to detail, communication, and decision-making skills to coordinate with the team and also work independently under minimal supervision.
Software testers and software developers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Software Tester | Software Developer | |
| Average salary | $78,580 | $87,521 |
| Salary range | Between $61,000 And $100,000 | Between $67,000 And $113,000 |
| Highest paying City | Sunnyvale, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Hampshire | California |
| Best paying company | Nordstrom | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Finance |
There are a few differences between a software tester and a software developer in terms of educational background:
| Software Tester | Software Developer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between software testers' and software developers' demographics:
| Software Tester | Software Developer | |
| Average age | 44 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 62.1% Female, 37.9% | Male, 79.3% Female, 20.7% |
| 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, 4.5% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 29.9% White, 52.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 8% |