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The differences between test design engineers and software test engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a test design engineer, becoming a software test engineer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a test design engineer has an average salary of $88,403, which is higher than the $85,338 average annual salary of a software test engineer.
The top three skills for a test design engineer include test equipment, RF and python. The most important skills for a software test engineer are python, java, and test automation.
| Test Design Engineer | Software Test Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $88,403 | $85,338 |
| Hourly rate | $42.50 | $41.03 |
| Growth rate | 2% | - |
| Number of jobs | 125,776 | 243,382 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 41 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
A Test Design Engineer's job is to critically check all materials, processes, electrical, and mechanical systems to ensure that customers get high-quality products. As a Test Design Engineer, your job is to run tests to check the quality of products throughout the production cycle. This is done by checking the various components and features of these products to identify and fix technical issues easily. Your duties will also include checking the raw materials used for production, creating test environments and analyzing the results, and trying to ascertain the root cause of the malfunctions.
Software engineers are responsible for coordinating the process of analyzing computer software programs. This process requires creating and implementing testing methods, documenting the test results, and providing recommendations for software improvements. They are also responsible for other tasks, including writing software testing procedures and creating testing scripts using different programming languages. A software engineer also collaborates with software developers and other staff members from the start and completion of a particular project. Having a bachelor's degree in software engineering, computer science, or information technology is needed to become a software engineer.
Test design engineers and software test engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Test Design Engineer | Software Test Engineer | |
| Average salary | $88,403 | $85,338 |
| Salary range | Between $67,000 And $115,000 | Between $63,000 And $115,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Mateo, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between a test design engineer and a software test engineer in terms of educational background:
| Test Design Engineer | Software Test Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between test design engineers' and software test engineers' demographics:
| Test Design Engineer | Software Test Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.2% Female, 12.8% | Male, 68.6% Female, 31.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 17.2% White, 67.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | 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 | 5% | 11% |