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The differences between principal design engineers and senior 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 senior engineer. Additionally, a principal design engineer has an average salary of $134,300, which is higher than the $108,743 average annual salary of a senior engineer.
The top three skills for a principal design engineer include RF, principal design and CAD. The most important skills for a senior engineer are java, python, and architecture.
| Principal Design Engineer | Senior Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $134,300 | $108,743 |
| Hourly rate | $64.57 | $52.28 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 120,887 | 343,200 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| 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 senior engineer is responsible for overseeing all operations within a designated area. With years of experience and expertise, a senior engineer may take charge of establishing goals, deadlines, and budgets for a particular project. They must devise and implement strategies that would improve the quality of workflow and deliver significant results. Furthermore, a senior manager must also supervise a team of skilled engineers, leading them in the joint effort to reach the company's vision and mission, all while adhering to the safety standards and regulations.
Principal design engineers and senior engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Principal Design Engineer | Senior Engineer | |
| Average salary | $134,300 | $108,743 |
| Salary range | Between $99,000 And $180,000 | Between $82,000 And $144,000 |
| Highest paying City | Mountain View, CA | San Mateo, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | Roku |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Start-up |
There are a few differences between a principal design engineer and a senior engineer in terms of educational background:
| Principal Design Engineer | Senior 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 | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between principal design engineers' and senior engineers' demographics:
| Principal Design Engineer | Senior Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.4% Female, 7.6% | Male, 89.1% Female, 10.9% |
| 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, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 17.1% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 5% |