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The differences between test analysts and software 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 test analyst and a software tester. Additionally, a software tester has an average salary of $78,580, which is higher than the $70,997 average annual salary of a test analyst.
The top three skills for a test analyst include test scripts, test plan and regression. The most important skills for a software tester are test results, regression, and test scripts.
| Test Analyst | Software Tester | |
| Yearly salary | $70,997 | $78,580 |
| Hourly rate | $34.13 | $37.78 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 91,308 | 208,853 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
The duties of a test analyst depend on one's line of work or industry of employment. In the information technology setting, a test analyst is responsible for testing computer software or hardware to ensure its quality before being released in the market. They participate in the development process to monitor the product specifications, review and analyze documentation, and create test systems, implementing them promptly and efficiently. As a test analyst, it is essential to produce progress reports, prepare presentations, and even give recommendations.
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.
Test analysts and software testers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Test Analyst | Software Tester | |
| Average salary | $70,997 | $78,580 |
| Salary range | Between $56,000 And $88,000 | Between $61,000 And $100,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Sunnyvale, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Hampshire | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | General Motors | Nordstrom |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Technology |
There are a few differences between a test analyst and a software tester in terms of educational background:
| Test Analyst | Software Tester | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between test analysts' and software testers' demographics:
| Test Analyst | Software Tester | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 55.2% Female, 44.8% | Male, 62.1% Female, 37.9% |
| 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, 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% |