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The differences between electrical 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 electrical systems engineer and a principal systems engineer. Additionally, a principal systems engineer has an average salary of $133,208, which is higher than the $86,969 average annual salary of an electrical systems engineer.
The top three skills for an electrical systems engineer include electrical engineering, electrical systems and system design. The most important skills for a principal systems engineer are systems engineering, DOD, and C++.
| Electrical Systems Engineer | Principal Systems Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $86,969 | $133,208 |
| Hourly rate | $41.81 | $64.04 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 149,053 | 146,444 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 45 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Electrical Systems Engineers have licensed engineers who are usually employed in companies involved in power generating machines and activities. These companies are usually providers for buildings, train systems, and automobiles, among others. The engineer designs power lines and machinations to generate power. They ensure that power is properly distributed throughout the system. They identify risks involving short circuits and the like. They would then look for ways to mitigate these risks and apply the necessary controls. Electrical Systems Engineers should have strong analytical skills and quick decision-making skills.
A Principal Systems Engineer supervises a group of other engineers in technical projects. They develop and lead systems engineering projects and efforts.
Electrical systems engineers and principal systems engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Electrical Systems Engineer | Principal Systems Engineer | |
| Average salary | $86,969 | $133,208 |
| Salary range | Between $66,000 And $113,000 | Between $97,000 And $181,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | eBay |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between an electrical systems engineer and a principal systems engineer in terms of educational background:
| Electrical Systems Engineer | Principal Systems Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Northeastern University |
Here are the differences between electrical systems engineers' and principal systems engineers' demographics:
| Electrical Systems Engineer | Principal Systems Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.0% Female, 8.0% | Male, 89.7% Female, 10.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.7% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 10.9% Asian, 14.5% White, 64.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | 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 | 6% | 9% |