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The differences between principal design engineers and senior principal 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 principal engineer. Additionally, a principal design engineer has an average salary of $134,300, which is higher than the $130,642 average annual salary of a senior principal engineer.
The top three skills for a principal design engineer include RF, principal design and CAD. The most important skills for a senior principal engineer are python, architecture, and java.
| Principal Design Engineer | Senior Principal Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $134,300 | $130,642 |
| Hourly rate | $64.57 | $62.81 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 120,887 | 272,459 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| 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 principal engineer is responsible for leading engineering tasks within an organization and reports project updates to senior management. Senior principal engineers develop strategic methods and principles to improve the technical stability and efficiency of the company's systems, creating business proposals according to clients' specifications, and negotiating contracts with suppliers and other service providers. They also train new staff and identify innovations and business opportunities that would generate more revenue resources for the company.
Principal design engineers and senior principal engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Principal Design Engineer | Senior Principal Engineer | |
| Average salary | $134,300 | $130,642 |
| Salary range | Between $99,000 And $180,000 | Between $93,000 And $182,000 |
| Highest paying City | Mountain View, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | Airbnb |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Professional |
There are a few differences between a principal design engineer and a senior principal engineer in terms of educational background:
| Principal Design Engineer | Senior Principal Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| 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 principal engineers' demographics:
| Principal Design Engineer | Senior Principal 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, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 17.2% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 5% |