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The differences between test operators and performance testers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a performance tester has an average salary of $88,120, which is higher than the $35,591 average annual salary of a test operator.
The top three skills for a test operator include test equipment, hand tools and test procedures. The most important skills for a performance tester are test results, java, and web services.
| Test Operator | Performance Tester | |
| Yearly salary | $35,591 | $88,120 |
| Hourly rate | $17.11 | $42.37 |
| Growth rate | -3% | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 63,674 | 35,277 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 31% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Average age | 45 | 44 |
| Years of experience | - | 4 |
The job of a test operator is to test the functionality of electronic components, assemblies, units, parts, and systems in a manner consistent with standard procedures. As a test operator, you will perform a variety of duties that include working with engineers to ensure accurate procedures are being followed, perform different mechanical assembly operations, and inspecting products for the correct orientation and placement. Additionally, you will assemble electronics in their boxes and notify the quality/test engineer if the test yields below the acceptable levels.
A performance tester is an industrial worker who identifies the stability, scalability, speed, and responsiveness of non-functional software in a given workload. The performance testers make sure that an application's critical components are performing well. They assess resource usage and other quality attributes, preparing it for production. Among the skills necessary to land this job are analytical, attention to detail, communication, and critical thinking.
Test operators and performance testers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Test Operator | Performance Tester | |
| Average salary | $35,591 | $88,120 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $48,000 | Between $68,000 And $112,000 |
| Highest paying City | Stratford, CT | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Delaware |
| Best paying company | Qorvo | Populus Group |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Utilities |
There are a few differences between a test operator and a performance tester in terms of educational background:
| Test Operator | Performance Tester | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 31% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Computer Science |
| Most common college | - | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between test operators' and performance testers' demographics:
| Test Operator | Performance Tester | |
| Average age | 45 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 72.0% Female, 28.0% | Male, 70.5% Female, 29.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.0% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 22.6% Asian, 10.2% White, 53.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | 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 | 4% | 11% |