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The differences between principal design engineers and design 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 design engineer. Additionally, a principal design engineer has an average salary of $134,300, which is higher than the $77,134 average annual salary of a design engineer.
The top three skills for a principal design engineer include RF, principal design and CAD. The most important skills for a design engineer are C++, UL, and project management.
| Principal Design Engineer | Design Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $134,300 | $77,134 |
| Hourly rate | $64.57 | $37.08 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 120,887 | 138,173 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| 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 design engineer is responsible for creating systems and applications based on their expertise. Design engineers work through client specifications based on business needs. A design engineer also provides recommendations on improving existing systems to boost its performance and increase efficiency. Design engineers must have an excellent command of computer systems, programming codes, and technical data to ensure the system's stability and high-quality processes. A design engineer should also have strong analytical and time-management skills to perform tasks and meet deadlines.
Principal design engineers and design engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Principal Design Engineer | Design Engineer | |
| Average salary | $134,300 | $77,134 |
| Salary range | Between $99,000 And $180,000 | Between $57,000 And $102,000 |
| Highest paying City | Mountain View, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a principal design engineer and a design engineer in terms of educational background:
| Principal Design Engineer | Design Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| 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 design engineers' demographics:
| Principal Design Engineer | Design Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.4% Female, 7.6% | Male, 88.9% Female, 11.1% |
| 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, 3.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 16.8% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 5% |