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The differences between systems testers and quality assurance testers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a systems tester and a quality assurance tester. Additionally, a systems tester has an average salary of $95,834, which is higher than the $74,140 average annual salary of a quality assurance tester.
The top three skills for a systems tester include python, java and C++. The most important skills for a quality assurance tester are manual test cases, regression, and test scripts.
| Systems Tester | Quality Assurance Tester | |
| Yearly salary | $95,834 | $74,140 |
| Hourly rate | $46.07 | $35.64 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 112,985 | 82,396 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A systems tester is an information technology expert who specializes in developing test structures to identify the strengths and weaknesses of systems and software. They primarily work to identify and eliminate bugs to ensure quality and client satisfaction. They may also perform clerical tasks such as preparing reports and findings. Furthermore, as a systems tester, it is essential to recommend solutions against problem areas, all while adhering to the project's budgets and the company's policies and regulations.
A quality assurance tester, also known as QA tester, has different responsibilities depending on the line of work or industry involved. In a computer development setting, they are in charge of working and coordinating with technical engineers. They have to conduct regular tests for new software and programs, identify inconsistencies, and find areas for improvement. Furthermore, a quality assurance tester must produce reports from the tests, which can be the basis of progress for further developments.
Systems testers and quality assurance testers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Systems Tester | Quality Assurance Tester | |
| Average salary | $95,834 | $74,140 |
| Salary range | Between $73,000 And $124,000 | Between $55,000 And $99,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Maryland |
| Best paying company | Apple | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Finance |
There are a few differences between a systems tester and a quality assurance tester in terms of educational background:
| Systems Tester | Quality Assurance Tester | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between systems testers' and quality assurance testers' demographics:
| Systems Tester | Quality Assurance Tester | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 63.5% Female, 36.5% | Male, 61.2% Female, 38.8% |
| 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, 6.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.0% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |