Pay Rate for Software Test Engineer in Seattle Area

The Emit

Hey all.

I recently moved into the Seattle area and have been on the job hunt for about a month. I've interviewed for a few positions including SDET, Web Dev 1, and Production Specialist with LexisNexis which really amounted to an SQL position. Nothing has panned out so far and there are a few interviews I haven't heard back from yet.

So, not having a job is starting to become an issue financially and somewhat mentally. I feel the need for work! So I was thinking about checking out STE positions. Testing, but less coding, and I'm sure less pay. But, I figure if I get something under my belt, it'll help with the resume and help get me some confidence.

So, anyway, I know to look around for 45-50k for an SDET position. I was wondering if anyone could help me out on standard pay rate for a low-level STE position.

edit: grammar sometimes gud, not always.

RiemannLives

In my experience it's pretty rare for an STE 1 (especially one with less than 1 year experience) to actually be hired on full time (as in, I have never seen it happen. ever). Far more likely to be a contractor which means an hourly pay rate not a yearly salary (which can be a good thing at some jobs). For a low level STE you are looking at $12 - $18 an hour.


The requirements for such a position are generally to be able to remember your name best of three tries and to know Volt's phone number. They are constantly hiring (and firing, when they quite frequently fail the "best of three" test) low level testers for Microsoft.

SDET can range (depending on specialty) from $20 to $45 and hour. Higher level STEs can get up there too (eg: team leads or rare / in demand specialties)

Edit: Forgot to mention, for all this might sound discouraging even a crappy STE1 position though Volt can lead to better things if you kick some ass while there. In 2002 I was in just such a job and I am currently full-time as Senior Creative Developer for a very cool little company downtown.

The Emit

Thanks for the reply!

Yah, I expected the STE position to be contract and temporary. I figure if I can't land an SDET job or find a Web Dev position that fits, then STE would be good to get me some money, testing experience, and experience at some place other than a small startup web dev company in southern OK It's amazing how many people have looked at my resume and turned me down because of "lack of industry/enterprise level experience".