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The differences between staff test engineers and senior engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a staff test engineer, becoming a senior engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a staff test engineer has an average salary of $115,935, which is higher than the $108,743 average annual salary of a senior engineer.
The top three skills for a staff test engineer include C++, data analysis and test results. The most important skills for a senior engineer are java, python, and architecture.
| Staff Test Engineer | Senior Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $115,935 | $108,743 |
| Hourly rate | $55.74 | $52.28 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 123,176 | 343,200 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
A staff test engineer is responsible for setting guidelines for a test plan. They also monitor technicians and other expert engineers. They frequently collaborate with other engineering staff to develop comprehensive testability requirements. They review and suggests testability modules.
A senior engineer is responsible for overseeing all operations within a designated area. With years of experience and expertise, a senior engineer may take charge of establishing goals, deadlines, and budgets for a particular project. They must devise and implement strategies that would improve the quality of workflow and deliver significant results. Furthermore, a senior manager must also supervise a team of skilled engineers, leading them in the joint effort to reach the company's vision and mission, all while adhering to the safety standards and regulations.
Staff test engineers and senior engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Staff Test Engineer | Senior Engineer | |
| Average salary | $115,935 | $108,743 |
| Salary range | Between $87,000 And $153,000 | Between $82,000 And $144,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Mateo, CA |
| Highest paying state | Oregon | California |
| Best paying company | Roku | |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Start-up |
There are a few differences between a staff test engineer and a senior engineer in terms of educational background:
| Staff Test Engineer | Senior Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northeastern University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between staff test engineers' and senior engineers' demographics:
| Staff Test Engineer | Senior Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 83.6% Female, 16.4% | Male, 89.1% Female, 10.9% |
| 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, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 17.1% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 5% |