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The differences between software testing managers and software engineers lead 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 testing manager and a software engineer lead. Additionally, a software testing manager has an average salary of $136,780, which is higher than the $125,565 average annual salary of a software engineer lead.
The top three skills for a software testing manager include software development, C++ and test automation. The most important skills for a software engineer lead are java, python, and software development.
| Software Testing Manager | Software Engineer Lead | |
| Yearly salary | $136,780 | $125,565 |
| Hourly rate | $65.76 | $60.37 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 191,359 | 342,462 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A software testing manager ensures software products are high quality. They design tests, manage testing resources, and gather testing data. They work with a team to conduct testing procedures. They are also responsible for writing reports.
A Software Engineer Lead is focused on developing and testing software programs. They manage a team of software engineers that design enterprise software products and operating systems.
Software testing managers and software engineers lead have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Software Testing Manager | Software Engineer Lead | |
| Average salary | $136,780 | $125,565 |
| Salary range | Between $100,000 And $185,000 | Between $93,000 And $168,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | NVIDIA | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a software testing manager and a software engineer lead in terms of educational background:
| Software Testing Manager | Software Engineer Lead | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between software testing managers' and software engineers lead' demographics:
| Software Testing Manager | Software Engineer Lead | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 76.0% Female, 24.0% | Male, 86.7% Female, 13.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.7% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 8.5% Asian, 29.7% White, 52.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.5% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.3% Asian, 29.9% White, 52.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |