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The differences between principal architects and engineering managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an engineering manager has an average salary of $139,328, which is higher than the $133,276 average annual salary of a principal architect.
The top three skills for a principal architect include cloud, infrastructure and emerging technologies. The most important skills for an engineering manager are java, project management, and continuous improvement.
| Principal Architect | Engineering Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $133,276 | $139,328 |
| Hourly rate | $64.08 | $66.98 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 118,908 | 67,124 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | 4.33 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 44 | 48 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
Principal Architects manage all design work at an architecture firm. They ensure that all work is of high professional quality and manage the activity of other design professionals.
An engineering manager is responsible for managing the overall concept of engineering and construction projects, ensuring that the plan meets the budget goals and the client's specifications. Engineering managers approve designs, plan strategic procedures to follow the project's timetable, analyze current market trends, hire the best and efficient contractors, and coordinate with the clients for any changes and adjustments as needed. An engineering manager must have excellent knowledge of engineering disciplines, as well as leadership and communication skills, monitoring the team's performance throughout the project.
Principal architects and engineering managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Principal Architect | Engineering Manager | |
| Average salary | $133,276 | $139,328 |
| Salary range | Between $97,000 And $181,000 | Between $99,000 And $195,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Mixpanel | |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a principal architect and an engineering manager in terms of educational background:
| Principal Architect | Engineering Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Architecture | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor |
Here are the differences between principal architects' and engineering managers' demographics:
| Principal Architect | Engineering Manager | |
| Average age | 44 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.3% Female, 10.7% | Male, 92.6% Female, 7.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.0% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.2% White, 71.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 9% |