Validation engineer vs senior validation specialist

The differences between validation engineers and senior validation specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a validation engineer and a senior validation specialist. Additionally, a senior validation specialist has an average salary of $94,914, which is higher than the $82,004 average annual salary of a validation engineer.

The top three skills for a validation engineer include python, FDA and GMP. The most important skills for a senior validation specialist are GMP, FDA, and QC.

Validation engineer vs senior validation specialist overview

	Validation Engineer	Senior Validation Specialist
Yearly salary	$82,004	$94,914
Hourly rate	$39.42	$45.63
Growth rate	3%	3%
Number of jobs	28,394	2,896
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 72%	Bachelor's Degree, 75%
Average age	43	43
Years of experience	4	4

Validation engineer vs senior validation specialist salary

Validation engineers and senior validation specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Validation Engineer	Senior Validation Specialist
Average salary	$82,004	$94,914
Salary range	Between $62,000 And $107,000	Between $71,000 And $125,000
Highest paying City	Cupertino, CA	Pleasanton, CA
Highest paying state	California	California
Best paying company	Meta	Bristol-Myers Squibb
Best paying industry	Technology	Pharmaceutical

Differences between validation engineer and senior validation specialist education

There are a few differences between a validation engineer and a senior validation specialist in terms of educational background:

	Validation Engineer	Senior Validation Specialist
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 72%	Bachelor's Degree, 75%
Most common major	Electrical Engineering	Biology
Most common college	Georgia Institute of Technology	-

Validation engineer vs senior validation specialist demographics

Here are the differences between validation engineers' and senior validation specialists' demographics:

	Validation Engineer	Senior Validation Specialist
Average age	43	43
Gender ratio	Male, 78.5% Female, 21.5%	Male, 71.1% Female, 28.9%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 4.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 10.2% Asian, 22.9% White, 57.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%	Black or African American, 4.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 10.5% Asian, 17.2% White, 63.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage	5%	5%

Differences between validation engineer and senior validation specialist duties and responsibilities

Validation engineer example responsibilities.

Manage the DFMEA and risk assessment/mitigation as development are on-going.
Manage a team of 15 technicians testing Intel's wireless products across all Microsoft's OS offerigns.
Coordinate a division of labor and manage next steps to validate SVM on Broadwell (BDW) client CPU.
Manage CSV quality compliance by meeting factory, corporate, federal and foreign inspections demonstrating regulatory control with no major findings.
Work with end users from different departments, possess strong analytical and risk assessment skills and managing multiple GLP system projects.
Coordinate and manage daily CIP validation testing activities.

Senior validation specialist example responsibilities.

Work with end users from different departments, possess strong analytical and risk assessment skills and managing multiple GLP system projects.
Perform internal GMP audits for QC lab functions including reagents, solutions and standards
Define requirements for site CSV trainings.
Develop and write IQ/OQ/PQ protocols and validation plans.
Conduct IQ/OQ/PQ protocols for manufacturing, packaging and utility systems.
Provide validation packages for the orchestration of GMP facilities, equipment, process & product entering commercialization.

Validation engineer vs senior validation specialist skills

Common validation engineer skills

Python, 7%
FDA, 6%
GMP, 6%
Medical Devices, 5%
Test Results, 4%
Data Analysis, 4%

Common senior validation specialist skills

GMP, 9%
FDA, 8%
QC, 8%
Laboratory Equipment, 6%
QA, 6%
Validation Studies, 6%

Validation Engineer vs. similar jobs

Validation Engineer related careers

Validation Engineer related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Architecture and Engineering Industry
Validation Engineer
Validation Engineer vs Senior Validation Specialist

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse architecture and engineering jobs