Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between principal electrical engineers and electrical controls engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a principal electrical engineer and an electrical controls engineer. Additionally, a principal electrical engineer has an average salary of $121,822, which is higher than the $82,681 average annual salary of an electrical controls engineer.
The top three skills for a principal electrical engineer include electrical engineering, RF and analog. The most important skills for an electrical controls engineer are HMI, PLC, and allen-bradley.
| Principal Electrical Engineer | Electrical Controls Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $121,822 | $82,681 |
| Hourly rate | $58.57 | $39.75 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 112,926 | 54,037 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A principal electrical engineer is responsible for overseeing the development of electrical systems and projects. Because of their expertise, they have the responsibility to spearhead electrical projects from planning to execution, set goals and budgets, establish guidelines, develop test structures, and create strategies to optimize operations. They must also respond to issues and concerns, resolving them promptly and efficiently. Furthermore, as a principal electrical engineer, it is essential to manage staff while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
An electrical controls engineer is responsible for monitoring the efficiency and optimal performance of the organization's electrical tools and equipment, usually in manufacturing and warehouse settings. Electrical controls engineers use their excellent analytical and statistical skills to analyze operational processes and suggest production improvement techniques maximize productivity and reduce service delays. They conduct preventive maintenance on the equipment and machinery, including network and system configuration, to increase efficiency and accuracy. An electrical controls engineer maintains operational reports, including equipment and machinery instructional manuals for reference.
Principal electrical engineers and electrical controls engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Principal Electrical Engineer | Electrical Controls Engineer | |
| Average salary | $121,822 | $82,681 |
| Salary range | Between $93,000 And $159,000 | Between $62,000 And $108,000 |
| Highest paying City | Redwood City, CA | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | Tallgrass Energy |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a principal electrical engineer and an electrical controls engineer in terms of educational background:
| Principal Electrical Engineer | Electrical Controls Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between principal electrical engineers' and electrical controls engineers' demographics:
| Principal Electrical Engineer | Electrical Controls Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.4% Female, 6.6% | Male, 93.6% Female, 6.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.1% Asian, 15.6% White, 63.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.6% Asian, 14.3% White, 64.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |