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The differences between test engineers and systems engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a test engineer, becoming a systems engineer takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a systems engineer has an average salary of $82,834, 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 systems engineer are python, linux, and C++.
| Test Engineer | Systems Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $79,832 | $82,834 |
| Hourly rate | $38.38 | $39.82 |
| Growth rate | - | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 228,974 | 145,936 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 44 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
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.
Systems engineers are responsible for creating and overseeing systems related to the overall operations of the organization. They are in charge of assessing the organization's needs in terms of systems and creating plans to address these needs. These systems are usually related to the production or manufacturing of company products. Systems engineers create end-to-end processes that ensure efficiency and effectiveness. They make sure that the processes they put in place adhere to safety and security policies and guidelines. They also do routine checks and continuously find ways to further improve production and other systems.
Test engineers and systems engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Test Engineer | Systems Engineer | |
| Average salary | $79,832 | $82,834 |
| Salary range | Between $60,000 And $104,000 | Between $62,000 And $109,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Telecommunication | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a test engineer and a systems engineer in terms of educational background:
| Test Engineer | Systems Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between test engineers' and systems engineers' demographics:
| Test Engineer | Systems Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 81.7% Female, 18.3% | Male, 86.1% Female, 13.9% |
| 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, 4.7% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 29.7% White, 52.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 8% |