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The differences between electronics engineers and principal engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both an electronics engineer and a principal engineer. Additionally, a principal engineer has an average salary of $130,213, which is higher than the $93,985 average annual salary of an electronics engineer.
The top three skills for an electronics engineer include analog, RF and power electronics. The most important skills for a principal engineer are java, architecture, and python.
| Electronics Engineer | Principal Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $93,985 | $130,213 |
| Hourly rate | $45.19 | $62.60 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 83,870 | 312,683 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
An electronics engineer specializes in designing and developing electronic components and systems, ensuring efficiency in all aspects. They are primarily responsible for conducting tests and maintenance for systems, identifying any faults or inconsistencies, and performing corrective measures right away. Moreover, an electronics engineer must coordinate with clients to consult them on their needs and meet with other skilled engineers to ensure optimal quality of equipment. An electronics engineer may also perform administrative tasks, mainly to produce progress reports and presentations, manage schedules, and craft instructional written materials for all electronic systems.
A principal engineer is responsible for monitoring the overall design phase of the construction process, including coordinating with the client for progress and updates, as well as performing adjustments as needed based on clients' specifications and requirements. Principal engineers also inspect the materials and resources used to ensure that the project stays within the budget goals and set timeframe. They should have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in preparing reports and training new staff.
Electronics engineers and principal engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Electronics Engineer | Principal Engineer | |
| Average salary | $93,985 | $130,213 |
| Salary range | Between $68,000 And $129,000 | Between $95,000 And $177,000 |
| Highest paying City | Berkeley, CA | San Mateo, CA |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Grubhub |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between an electronics engineer and a principal engineer in terms of educational background:
| Electronics Engineer | Principal Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northeastern University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between electronics engineers' and principal engineers' demographics:
| Electronics Engineer | Principal Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.2% Female, 8.8% | Male, 92.6% Female, 7.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.4% Asian, 15.8% White, 63.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 16.6% White, 67.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 5% |