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The differences between advanced systems engineers and principal systems engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an advanced systems engineer and a principal systems engineer. Additionally, a principal systems engineer has an average salary of $133,208, which is higher than the $109,257 average annual salary of an advanced systems engineer.
The top three skills for an advanced systems engineer include DOD, C++ and management system. The most important skills for a principal systems engineer are systems engineering, DOD, and C++.
| Advanced Systems Engineer | Principal Systems Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $109,257 | $133,208 |
| Hourly rate | $52.53 | $64.04 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 220,210 | 146,444 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
An advanced systems engineer develops and upgrades a company's systems, whether those are systems the company uses internally or provides for clients externally. A systems engineer monitors and evaluates applications, software, and productivity systems. Their goal is to continually improve all programs that a company uses. Working alongside the IT department, they monitor feedback, provide suggestions and recommendations, and order upgrades when necessary.
A Principal Systems Engineer supervises a group of other engineers in technical projects. They develop and lead systems engineering projects and efforts.
Advanced systems engineers and principal systems engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Advanced Systems Engineer | Principal Systems Engineer | |
| Average salary | $109,257 | $133,208 |
| Salary range | Between $84,000 And $140,000 | Between $97,000 And $181,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Bruno, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Idaho | California |
| Best paying company | Warner Bros. | eBay |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between an advanced systems engineer and a principal systems engineer in terms of educational background:
| Advanced Systems Engineer | Principal Systems Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Northeastern University |
Here are the differences between advanced systems engineers' and principal systems engineers' demographics:
| Advanced Systems Engineer | Principal Systems Engineer | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 83.4% Female, 16.6% | Male, 89.7% Female, 10.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.3% Asian, 11.9% White, 61.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 8.3% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 12.1% Asian, 12.8% White, 61.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |