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The differences between hardware development engineers and principal engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a hardware development engineer, becoming a principal engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a principal engineer has an average salary of $130,213, which is higher than the $119,370 average annual salary of a hardware development engineer.
The top three skills for a hardware development engineer include hardware development, analog and PCB. The most important skills for a principal engineer are java, architecture, and python.
| Hardware Development Engineer | Principal Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $119,370 | $130,213 |
| Hourly rate | $57.39 | $62.60 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 100,593 | 312,683 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
A hardware development engineer carries out an analysis of the requirements of a needed product and tries to develop a prototype, taking into consideration the cost and specifications. You're also expected to work on already existing products and seek ways to modify them. You will be in charge of your team members and oversee all they do. Some of the hardware you may be required to design and test includes microprocessors, routers, keyboards, circuit boards, etc.
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.
Hardware development engineers and principal engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Hardware Development Engineer | Principal Engineer | |
| Average salary | $119,370 | $130,213 |
| Salary range | Between $88,000 And $161,000 | Between $95,000 And $177,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Mateo, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | Grubhub |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between a hardware development engineer and a principal engineer in terms of educational background:
| Hardware Development Engineer | Principal Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northeastern University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between hardware development engineers' and principal engineers' demographics:
| Hardware Development Engineer | Principal Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.2% Female, 12.8% | Male, 92.6% Female, 7.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.1% Unknown, 2.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.5% Asian, 29.7% White, 50.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | 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 | 4% | 5% |