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The differences between principal electrical engineers and electrical design 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 design engineer. Additionally, a principal electrical engineer has an average salary of $121,822, which is higher than the $83,944 average annual salary of an electrical design engineer.
The top three skills for a principal electrical engineer include electrical engineering, RF and analog. The most important skills for an electrical design engineer are electrical design, revit, and electrical systems.
| Principal Electrical Engineer | Electrical Design Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $121,822 | $83,944 |
| Hourly rate | $58.57 | $40.36 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 112,926 | 87,121 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| 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 design engineer develops electrical systems for different applications. Electrical design engineers create system layouts and specifications. They test the systems and make some adjustments whenever necessary. The solutions they create range from component designs to large systems. The set of skills imperative for this job include good technical abilities, teamwork, motivation for extra work hours, ability to execute job under pressure, and enthusiasm. They should also be savvy in technology and innovation.
Principal electrical engineers and electrical design engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Principal Electrical Engineer | Electrical Design Engineer | |
| Average salary | $121,822 | $83,944 |
| Salary range | Between $93,000 And $159,000 | Between $63,000 And $110,000 |
| Highest paying City | Redwood City, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a principal electrical engineer and an electrical design engineer in terms of educational background:
| Principal Electrical Engineer | Electrical Design Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| 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 design engineers' demographics:
| Principal Electrical Engineer | Electrical Design Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.4% Female, 6.6% | Male, 89.9% Female, 10.1% |
| 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, 11.3% Asian, 14.4% White, 64.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |