Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between principal electrical engineers and field 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 a field engineer. Additionally, a principal electrical engineer has an average salary of $121,822, which is higher than the $71,874 average annual salary of a field engineer.
The top three skills for a principal electrical engineer include electrical engineering, RF and analog. The most important skills for a field engineer are customer service, customer satisfaction, and project management.
| Principal Electrical Engineer | Field Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $121,822 | $71,874 |
| Hourly rate | $58.57 | $34.55 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 112,926 | 86,015 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| 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.
A field engineer's role will vary on the industry or line of work involved. However, the primary responsibility will mostly revolve around handling equipment and machinery, ensuring that they function effectively and safely. It is also the task of a field engineer to oversee the workflow and workforce, giving directions and recommendations when necessary. Furthermore, a field engineer must develop strategies and plans to improve the site's efficiency, produce progress reports, and coordinate with other workers.
Principal electrical engineers and field engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Principal Electrical Engineer | Field Engineer | |
| Average salary | $121,822 | $71,874 |
| Salary range | Between $93,000 And $159,000 | Between $51,000 And $99,000 |
| Highest paying City | Redwood City, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Energy |
There are a few differences between a principal electrical engineer and a field engineer in terms of educational background:
| Principal Electrical Engineer | Field Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between principal electrical engineers' and field engineers' demographics:
| Principal Electrical Engineer | Field Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.4% Female, 6.6% | Male, 92.7% Female, 7.3% |
| 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, 11.5% Asian, 14.3% White, 64.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |