Quality assurance in the product and development cycle is non-negotiable. It is one of the most essential parts of the process that can make or break your product. Having been in this field for quite some time, I know that quality assurance technologies are evolving rapidly. One of the most recent and widely followed trends in Q&A is automation testing - an automated version of manual software testing and evaluation.
Wondering who makes it happen? It’s automation test engineers like me. Let me brief you a little more about the role. Automation test engineers design and create programs that conduct automated tests on new or existing software. They also investigate software defects and try to find newer ways to resolve them. However, it took me some time and Software Tester courses to get skilled.
Nevertheless, it is highly lucrative, and you can get a high-paying automation test engineer salary. So, let me share my experience and knowledge about this role and give you a clearer picture of the salary prospects of an automation tester.
Who is an Automation Test Engineer?
An automation engineer aims to eradicate errors, defects, and issues with company or customer service procedures, software development, and product creation. Additionally, companies are using automated chatbots more frequently to aid customers with problems or to point them in the direction of the correct person. Automation also produces high-quality software and goods more quickly and with fewer flaws. It also helps to optimize IT help desk ticketing and service management. Automation engineers assist in developing, implementing, and maintaining this technology.
Automation Test Engineer Salary in 2024
The booming software and automation industry has also surged automation test engineer salaries. That said, the automation testing engineer salary is around $105,445 per year. Let’s have a deeper look at different rates.
Automation Test Engineer Salary: Based on Experience
Let’s have a look at the average automation test engineer salary based on experience:
- Beginner (0-2 years of experience): The entry-level test automation engineer salary for people with 1-2 years of experience per year can be around $97,500.
- Intermediate (2-4 years of experience): The automated software testing salary for people with 2-4 years of experience is around $116,221.
- Advanced (4-7 years of experience): The senior test automation engineer salary for professionals with 5-7 years of experience is around $154,077.
The salary can vary based on company size, location/region industry, skill set, etc. Test automation engineers with additional technical skill sets, coding skills, and QA methodology can expect a higher salary than the mentioned levels.
Automation Test Engineer Salary: Based on Location
Automation test engineer salary may vary based on several factors, with location being crucial. Here are some of the most popular salary ranges in top cities and companies across various countries.
A. India
Let’s have a look at automation test engineer salary in top cities in India:
| City | Annual salary (INR) |
| Bangalore | 7,97,898 |
| Hyderabad | 7,40,936 |
| Noida | 7,09,249 |
| Chennai | 6,96,565 |
| Pune | 6,81,669 |
Have a look at the average annual salary in the top companies in India:
| Company | Annual salary (INR) |
| Oracle | 12,31,196 |
| IBM | 7,41,757 |
| Accenture | 7,26,675 |
| Ericsson-Worldwide | 7,25,023 |
| Amdocs | 6,85,110 |
B. US
Let’s look at automation test engineer salary for freshers in each city in the US.
City | Annual salary (USD) |
Arlington, VA | 112,799 |
Boston, MA | 102,374 |
Washington, DC | 101,902 |
Houston, TX | 98,489 |
Phoenix, AZ | 96,950 |
Have a look at the top average annual salary in the top companies in the US:
C. UK
Let’s have a look at the automation test engineer salary in each city in the UK:
Automation test engineers’ salaries in top companies in the UK.
D. Australia
Let’s have a look at automation test engineer salary in top cities in Australia:
Below is a table with the average automation test engineer salary in top companies in Australia.
E. Canada
Let’s have a look at automation test engineer salary in top cities in Canada:
Salaries in top companies in Canada
F. Singapore
Let’s have a look at automation test engineer salary in each city and top companies in Singapore:
Automation Test Engineer Salary: Based on Job Roles
The automation test engineer salary for freshers is around $97,000. However, the salary can vary based on the job role and responsibilities. Here’s a list of job roles related to automation test engineer and the salary for each position:
| Job Role | Annual salary (USD) |
| Automation Testing | 85,940 |
| Controls Engineer | 86,598 |
| Mechatronics Engineer | 87,793 |
| Test Automation Engineer | 1,03,609 |
Factors Affecting Associate Software Engineer Salary
Though there’s a fixed salary range, sometimes, the pay can vary based on several factors that substantially affect the automation test engineer salary per month.
1. Location
The salary of an automation test engineer can vary significantly based on the state or city. For instance, an automation test engineer in Arlington or Boston can earn significantly more than an AI engineer with the same experience and skills in a smaller city like Phoenix. For instance, the automation test engineer salary is around 102,374 USD/year, which is typical in Boston-based companies. On the other hand, it is around 96,950 USD per year for companies based out of Phoneix.
2. Industry/Employer
Regarding automation test engineer salary, the niche and company are crucial factors. Industries like IT, software tech, QA, etc, offer higher salaries for automation testing engineers. However, this figure can also vary from one company to another. For instance, Workday offers a competitive 144,538 USD per year, whereas Bastian Solutions offers around 115,037 USD per year.
3. Experience
The QA automation tester salary also depends on the experience level. Let’s have a deeper look at this:
| Experience | Annual Salary (USD) |
| 0-2 years of experience | 97,500 |
| 2-4 years of experience | 116,221 |
| 4-7 years of experience | 154,077 |
4. Demand and Supply
Demand and supply significantly affect the salary of automation test engineers. Due to the rapid evolution of AI and automation, certain companies in the tech field offer significantly higher salaries for automation test engineers than those in retail or manufacturing.
Moreover, the salary can also vary based on the demands in various cities within the US. The salary for automation test engineer jobs in Arlington is 112,799 USD, a city with a higher demand.
5. Credentials / Certifications
Certification holders have additional technical knowledge and hands-on experience in QA and software testing. Certification from a reputed association increases the chances of getting a competitive automation test engineer salary. For instance, having a Selenium course can provide a competitive edge as you learn about testing web-based applications.
6. Skills
Some specific advanced and technical skill sets also affect the salary. Associate engineers with skills like test script development, coding, resilience testing, etc., receive higher salaries than those lacking such skills.
How to Improve Associate Software Engineer Salary?
Automation test engineers can receive higher pay with advanced skills, certifications, and training. Here’s how you can boost your automation test engineer salary.
1. Skills
Developing and mastering skills in a few specialized areas can help automation test engineers. Here are some examples of skills that are highly valued in the automation test engineering field:
- Test script development: Test script development should be a strong suit for automation testers. Making the most of automation testing requires writing effective, reusable test scripts.
- Risk assessment and mitigation: Automation test engineers must identify and reduce the hazards connected to the automation testing procedure. Upon finding potential risks, their effects on testing operations should be evaluated, and AT engineers should create mitigation plans.
2. Certifications
Certifications can boost an automation test engineer’s skill set and salary range. Engineers with QA or testing web-based application certifications from reputable associations eventually land higher salaries. For example, you can pursue Microsoft ISTQB Certified Software Tester certification. This improves your understanding of cloud computing and cloud-based applications. It helps to understand key concepts in software engineering, such as networking, storage, application development, and application maintenance.
3. Degrees
Most companies look for a foundation in computer science or a related field when hiring. This mainly includes your bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Studying computer science or engineering in computer science or ECE could be beneficial. However, a bachelor’s or master’s degree in AI, software engineering, etc, is also acceptable.
4. Experience
Automation test engineers with more experience have a relatively upper hand and eventually receive higher salaries. This is because experienced automation test engineers are highly proficient in Agile, DevOps, continuous delivery, etc., which are crucial for automation testing.
Why are Automation Test Engineers Paid So Much?
The automation field is growing rapidly. This has created a demand for jobs related to automation testing. Consequently, automation test engineers are highly in demand as testing forms a significant part of QA.
Also, automation test engineers have specialized skills like software testing, test script development, advanced programming, etc., which are equally in demand in the overall software development process. Thus, due to the strong technical competence across various niches and the growth of automation, test engineers in automation are paid highly.
Conclusion
As automation and AI are rapidly taking over the spotlight in various industries, jobs across automation have turned lucrative. That said, the field is equally competitive, with more candidates entering it, making it essential for candidates to equip themselves with the latest trends in automation. Upskilling or taking courses like KnowledgeHut’s Software Testing certification course to master advanced technical skills can help you earn a comparatively higher salary.
