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The differences between principal design engineers and contracting 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 principal design engineer and a contracting engineer. Additionally, a principal design engineer has an average salary of $134,300, which is higher than the $122,620 average annual salary of a contracting engineer.
The top three skills for a principal design engineer include RF, principal design and CAD. The most important skills for a contracting engineer are C++, C #, and R.
| Principal Design Engineer | Contracting Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $134,300 | $122,620 |
| Hourly rate | $64.57 | $58.95 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 120,887 | 115,631 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A principal design engineer is responsible for designing and managing manufacturing automation, renewable and solar systems integration engineering projects, and energy reduction projects. You will oversee the project's design, estimate and secure materials, and manage schedules. Additionally, you will be responsible for drafting and executing construction contracts, monitor project status and progress, and conducting engineering research and investigations. You will also train new design engineers, guide other departments on engineering matters, and keeping up-to-date with the latest industry trends.
A contracting engineer specializes in overseeing engineering projects, focusing on the legalities of contracts between clients and engineers to ensure fairness in all parties involved. Most of their duties are administrative, such as gathering and analyzing data, conducting research and analyses, setting budgets and guidelines, drafting commercial tenders and other paperwork, maintaining records, and executing contracts. They are also responsible for handling contract issues and concerns, solving them promptly and efficiently. Additionally, a contracting engineer maintains an open communication line with all parties to ensure a smooth workflow.
Principal design engineers and contracting engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Principal Design Engineer | Contracting Engineer | |
| Average salary | $134,300 | $122,620 |
| Salary range | Between $99,000 And $180,000 | Between $86,000 And $173,000 |
| Highest paying City | Mountain View, CA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | California | New York |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | EquiLend |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Professional |
There are a few differences between a principal design engineer and a contracting engineer in terms of educational background:
| Principal Design Engineer | Contracting Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between principal design engineers' and contracting engineers' demographics:
| Principal Design Engineer | Contracting Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.4% Female, 7.6% | Male, 88.2% Female, 11.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.6% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 10.6% Asian, 19.7% White, 60.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 3.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 11.8% White, 70.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 5% |