Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between principal electrical engineers and engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a principal electrical engineer, becoming an engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a principal electrical engineer has an average salary of $121,822, which is higher than the $92,077 average annual salary of an engineer.
The top three skills for a principal electrical engineer include electrical engineering, RF and analog. The most important skills for an engineer are python, cloud, and C++.
| Principal Electrical Engineer | Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $121,822 | $92,077 |
| Hourly rate | $58.57 | $44.27 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 112,926 | 618,207 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.33 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
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.
Engineers are highly trained professionals who determine the feasibility of various projects, usually related to the construction industry. They are considered experts in mathematics and science, two disciplines that they need to use in designing and coming up with plans for projects. They should also be well-versed in different construction or industrial materials, and they ensure that appropriate materials are used for the project. They also ensure that the projects meet the requirements of the groups that hired them. They create spaces that would both address the needs of the end-users and the industry standards. They also ensure that the projects they make would stand the test of time.
Principal electrical engineers and engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Principal Electrical Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average salary | $121,822 | $92,077 |
| Salary range | Between $93,000 And $159,000 | Between $65,000 And $130,000 |
| Highest paying City | Redwood City, CA | Huntsville, AL |
| Highest paying state | California | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | Fort Bend County |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a principal electrical engineer and an engineer in terms of educational background:
| Principal Electrical Engineer | Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between principal electrical engineers' and engineers' demographics:
| Principal Electrical Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.4% Female, 6.6% | Male, 86.3% Female, 13.7% |
| 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, 3.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 15.0% White, 67.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 5% |