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The differences between principal design engineers and staff 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 staff engineer. Additionally, a principal design engineer has an average salary of $134,300, which is higher than the $107,530 average annual salary of a staff engineer.
The top three skills for a principal design engineer include RF, principal design and CAD. The most important skills for a staff engineer are java, python, and architecture.
| Principal Design Engineer | Staff Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $134,300 | $107,530 |
| Hourly rate | $64.57 | $51.70 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 120,887 | 277,011 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| 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.
Staff engineers are responsible for designing, developing, and inspecting various products, equipment, or structures. These professionals may perform varied duties depending on their specialization that includes overseeing the design and construction of buildings, bridges, sewer systems, and other infrastructure, estimating the financial costs of construction projects, and ensuring compliance with health and safety laws and regulations. Other duties include designing and developing machinery, tools, and engines, solving design problems, and building the manufacturing equipment needed to create their products.
Principal design engineers and staff engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Principal Design Engineer | Staff Engineer | |
| Average salary | $134,300 | $107,530 |
| Salary range | Between $99,000 And $180,000 | Between $69,000 And $167,000 |
| Highest paying City | Mountain View, CA | San Mateo, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | Flexport |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between a principal design engineer and a staff engineer in terms of educational background:
| Principal Design Engineer | Staff Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between principal design engineers' and staff engineers' demographics:
| Principal Design Engineer | Staff Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.4% Female, 7.6% | Male, 87.9% Female, 12.1% |
| 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, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 16.8% White, 67.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 5% |