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The differences between principal design engineers and cost 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 cost engineer. Additionally, a principal design engineer has an average salary of $134,300, which is higher than the $87,901 average annual salary of a cost engineer.
The top three skills for a principal design engineer include RF, principal design and CAD. The most important skills for a cost engineer are project management, cost analysis, and construction management.
| Principal Design Engineer | Cost Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $134,300 | $87,901 |
| Hourly rate | $64.57 | $42.26 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 120,887 | 65,278 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| 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 cost engineer is responsible for projecting cost and expenses reports for the production process, identify and mitigate risks, and develop strategic techniques to reduce the excessive financial loss for project buildings. Cost engineers conduct data and statistical analysis to measure time deliverables and quality checks to ensure profitability and adherence to business objectives. They research and negotiate materials from trusted suppliers and vendors with high-quality products that would meet construction designs and client specifications.
Principal design engineers and cost engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Principal Design Engineer | Cost Engineer | |
| Average salary | $134,300 | $87,901 |
| Salary range | Between $99,000 And $180,000 | Between $64,000 And $120,000 |
| Highest paying City | Mountain View, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | BP America Inc |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Energy |
There are a few differences between a principal design engineer and a cost engineer in terms of educational background:
| Principal Design Engineer | Cost Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Business |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | Georgia Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between principal design engineers' and cost engineers' demographics:
| Principal Design Engineer | Cost Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.4% Female, 7.6% | Male, 74.1% Female, 25.9% |
| 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, 4.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.3% Asian, 14.4% White, 64.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |