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The differences between test specialists and quality assurance 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 specialist and a quality assurance engineer. Additionally, a quality assurance engineer has an average salary of $82,215, which is higher than the $76,761 average annual salary of a test specialist.
The top three skills for a test specialist include test results, test cases and java. The most important skills for a quality assurance engineer are java, python, and regression.
| Test Specialist | Quality Assurance Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $76,761 | $82,215 |
| Hourly rate | $36.90 | $39.53 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 58,423 | 243,536 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A test specialist is responsible for evaluating and running diagnostic tests for system networks and applications to ensure stability and efficiency according to the quality standards. Test specialists analyze the system's features and write findings reports for improvement and technical resolutions. They also help system engineers in developing infrastructures and designing servers to support business operations and maximize productivity. A test specialist must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in identifying malfunctions and inconsistencies before the actual launch of deliverables.
A Quality Assurance Engineer's role is to oversee the overall production and ensure that the product is cost-efficient and aligns with the company's standards. The responsibility mainly revolves around conducting activities that examine and scrutinize the condition of a product or service to identify issues and come up with possible solutions to resolve the issue or attain stronger customer satisfaction. Furthermore, the Quality Assurance Engineer must also ensure that the product adheres to the government regulations and market guidelines.
Test specialists and quality assurance engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Test Specialist | Quality Assurance Engineer | |
| Average salary | $76,761 | $82,215 |
| Salary range | Between $61,000 And $96,000 | Between $61,000 And $109,000 |
| Highest paying City | Columbia, MD | San Mateo, CA |
| Highest paying state | Maryland | California |
| Best paying company | Sony Interactive Entertainment America | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | - | Technology |
There are a few differences between a test specialist and a quality assurance engineer in terms of educational background:
| Test Specialist | Quality Assurance Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Business | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between test specialists' and quality assurance engineers' demographics:
| Test Specialist | Quality Assurance Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 62.1% Female, 37.9% | Male, 69.5% Female, 30.5% |
| 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% |