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The differences between nuclear engineers and principal engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a principal engineer has an average salary of $130,213, which is higher than the $99,677 average annual salary of a nuclear engineer.
The top three skills for a nuclear engineer include security clearance, oversight and project management. The most important skills for a principal engineer are java, architecture, and python.
| Nuclear Engineer | Principal Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $99,677 | $130,213 |
| Hourly rate | $47.92 | $62.60 |
| Growth rate | -11% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 8,747 | 312,683 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 43 | 41 |
| Years of experience | - | 6 |
A nuclear engineer directs the operation and maintenance of operational nuclear power plants. Nuclear engineers make sure that the power plants are efficient and in conformity with the safety standards. They research and create instruments, systems, and processes to derive the benefits of nuclear radiation and energy. Their duties and responsibilities include finding the medical and industrial uses of radioactive materials. They also perform other tasks related to nuclear technology and radiation.
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.
Nuclear engineers and principal engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Nuclear Engineer | Principal Engineer | |
| Average salary | $99,677 | $130,213 |
| Salary range | Between $67,000 And $147,000 | Between $95,000 And $177,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | San Mateo, CA |
| Highest paying state | Nevada | California |
| Best paying company | Baker Hughes | Grubhub |
| Best paying industry | Utilities | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between a nuclear engineer and a principal engineer in terms of educational background:
| Nuclear Engineer | Principal Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between nuclear engineers' and principal engineers' demographics:
| Nuclear Engineer | Principal Engineer | |
| Average age | 43 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.3% Female, 12.7% | Male, 92.6% Female, 7.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 10.3% Asian, 17.2% White, 63.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | 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 | 5% | 5% |