Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between system test engineers and software 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 system test engineer and a software engineer. Additionally, a system test engineer has an average salary of $100,751, which is higher than the $100,260 average annual salary of a software engineer.
The top three skills for a system test engineer include python, test procedures and C++. The most important skills for a software engineer are java, python, and software development.
| System Test Engineer | Software Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $100,751 | $100,260 |
| Hourly rate | $48.44 | $48.20 |
| Growth rate | - | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 131,653 | 339,938 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3.5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Average age | 44 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A system test engineer is responsible for performing diagnostic tests on computer systems and applications, measuring its performance and efficiency, and recommending technical solutions as needed. System test engineers assist in system configuration and network infrastructure, ensuring that the deliverables meet the business requirements and project specifications. They should have excellent knowledge of the technology industry, as well as a strong command of programming languages, to automate scripts for quality check methodologies. A system test engineer coordinates with the technology team in improving the user interface, including navigation and server stability.
A software engineer is a computer science professional who is responsible for the development of information systems, designing and building computer systems software and applications software. They often prefer to call themselves as a software developer or computer programmer. They have substantial knowledge of programming languages, software development, and computer operating systems, and other technologies. They use these to turn a plan into a final output. They can create a design, test, and develop software based on the needs of their clients.
System test engineers and software engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| System Test Engineer | Software Engineer | |
| Average salary | $100,751 | $100,260 |
| Salary range | Between $76,000 And $132,000 | Between $73,000 And $136,000 |
| Highest paying City | Petaluma, CA | San Bruno, CA |
| Highest paying state | Nevada | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Start-up |
There are a few differences between a system test engineer and a software engineer in terms of educational background:
| System Test Engineer | Software Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Computer Science |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between system test engineers' and software engineers' demographics:
| System Test Engineer | Software Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 80.3% Female, 19.7% | Male, 78.0% Female, 22.0% |
| 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, 4.4% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.1% Asian, 34.0% White, 48.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 8% |