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The differences between principal design engineers and electronics 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 an electronics engineer. Additionally, a principal design engineer has an average salary of $134,300, which is higher than the $93,985 average annual salary of an electronics engineer.
The top three skills for a principal design engineer include RF, principal design and CAD. The most important skills for an electronics engineer are analog, RF, and power electronics.
| Principal Design Engineer | Electronics Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $134,300 | $93,985 |
| Hourly rate | $64.57 | $45.19 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 120,887 | 83,870 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| 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.
An electronics engineer specializes in designing and developing electronic components and systems, ensuring efficiency in all aspects. They are primarily responsible for conducting tests and maintenance for systems, identifying any faults or inconsistencies, and performing corrective measures right away. Moreover, an electronics engineer must coordinate with clients to consult them on their needs and meet with other skilled engineers to ensure optimal quality of equipment. An electronics engineer may also perform administrative tasks, mainly to produce progress reports and presentations, manage schedules, and craft instructional written materials for all electronic systems.
Principal design engineers and electronics engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Principal Design Engineer | Electronics Engineer | |
| Average salary | $134,300 | $93,985 |
| Salary range | Between $99,000 And $180,000 | Between $68,000 And $129,000 |
| Highest paying City | Mountain View, CA | Berkeley, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a principal design engineer and an electronics engineer in terms of educational background:
| Principal Design Engineer | Electronics Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | Northeastern University |
Here are the differences between principal design engineers' and electronics engineers' demographics:
| Principal Design Engineer | Electronics Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.4% Female, 7.6% | Male, 91.2% Female, 8.8% |
| 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, 4.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.4% Asian, 15.8% White, 63.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |