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The differences between hydraulic engineers and senior 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 a hydraulic engineer and a senior principal engineer. Additionally, a senior principal engineer has an average salary of $130,642, which is higher than the $84,440 average annual salary of a hydraulic engineer.
The top three skills for a hydraulic engineer include hec ras, civil engineering and HEC-RAS. The most important skills for a senior principal engineer are python, architecture, and java.
| Hydraulic Engineer | Senior Principal Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $84,440 | $130,642 |
| Hourly rate | $40.60 | $62.81 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 91,749 | 272,459 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
Hydraulics engineers are engineering professionals who design projects that are related to the movement and control of fluids. These engineers must perform many studies to understand water systems and design dams, drainage systems, and levees for the local government. They are required to participate in the water resources and flood control planning by creating a deep foundation and flood control structure designs. Hydraulics must also communicate with clients and governing bodies to address their concerns about stormwater and erosion.
A senior principal engineer is responsible for leading engineering tasks within an organization and reports project updates to senior management. Senior principal engineers develop strategic methods and principles to improve the technical stability and efficiency of the company's systems, creating business proposals according to clients' specifications, and negotiating contracts with suppliers and other service providers. They also train new staff and identify innovations and business opportunities that would generate more revenue resources for the company.
Hydraulic engineers and senior principal engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Hydraulic Engineer | Senior Principal Engineer | |
| Average salary | $84,440 | $130,642 |
| Salary range | Between $60,000 And $118,000 | Between $93,000 And $182,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Phillips 66 | Airbnb |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Professional |
There are a few differences between a hydraulic engineer and a senior principal engineer in terms of educational background:
| Hydraulic Engineer | Senior Principal Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Civil Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between hydraulic engineers' and senior principal engineers' demographics:
| Hydraulic Engineer | Senior Principal Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 84.6% Female, 15.4% | Male, 88.2% Female, 11.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 14.9% White, 68.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 17.2% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |