Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between test engineers and software systems 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 test engineer and a software systems engineer. Additionally, a software systems engineer has an average salary of $107,102, which is higher than the $79,832 average annual salary of a test engineer.
The top three skills for a test engineer include python, C++ and C #. The most important skills for a software systems engineer are java, python, and software development.
| Test Engineer | Software Systems Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $79,832 | $107,102 |
| Hourly rate | $38.38 | $51.49 |
| Growth rate | - | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 228,974 | 370,518 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Average age | 44 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Test engineers are professionals who observe and record the quality of products, which includes functionality, durability, speed, and safety. They are responsible for checking the materials and procedures thoroughly throughout the production cycle. It is their duty to run tests on different criteria to identify and fix technical issues. They analyze reactions to determine the causes of malfunctions and recommend potential improvements. Moreover, they test products before they are launched to ensure customers get high-quality and functional products.
A software systems engineer is responsible for designing and creating software systems applications and programs according to clients' specifications or business' needs. They work to improve the features of existing applications to boost efficiency and optimal performance. Software systems engineers manage systems configuration and structural development to develop high-quality outputs and deliverables. They also run multiple diagnostic tests to ensure smooth navigations and server transitions and identify efficient technical solutions. A software systems engineer assists the end-users with application issues, performing troubleshooting operations, and creating resolution reports for reference.
Test engineers and software systems engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Test Engineer | Software Systems Engineer | |
| Average salary | $79,832 | $107,102 |
| Salary range | Between $60,000 And $104,000 | Between $80,000 And $142,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Telecommunication | Start-up |
There are a few differences between a test engineer and a software systems engineer in terms of educational background:
| Test Engineer | Software Systems Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | 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 test engineers' and software systems engineers' demographics:
| Test Engineer | Software Systems Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 81.7% Female, 18.3% | Male, 81.1% Female, 18.9% |
| 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, 4.6% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.3% Asian, 29.8% White, 52.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 8% |