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The differences between principal electrical engineers and senior electrical 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 senior electrical engineer. Additionally, a principal electrical engineer has an average salary of $121,822, which is higher than the $109,315 average annual salary of a senior electrical engineer.
The top three skills for a principal electrical engineer include electrical engineering, RF and analog. The most important skills for a senior electrical engineer are control systems, electrical equipment, and electrical systems.
| Principal Electrical Engineer | Senior Electrical Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $121,822 | $109,315 |
| Hourly rate | $58.57 | $52.56 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 112,926 | 82,639 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| 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 senior electrical engineer is an individual who leads other engineers to review electrical design plans and analyze existing electrical systems. Senior electrical engineers must establish relationships with clients, vendors, and suppliers to ensure that projects are completed according to specifications. They create project budgets and produce working schedules and company regulations to make sure that a safe and positive working environment is achieved. Senior electrical engineers must be passionate about engineering development by attending electrical conferences and events.
Principal electrical engineers and senior electrical engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Principal Electrical Engineer | Senior Electrical Engineer | |
| Average salary | $121,822 | $109,315 |
| Salary range | Between $93,000 And $159,000 | Between $82,000 And $144,000 |
| Highest paying City | Redwood City, CA | Seattle, WA |
| 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 a senior electrical engineer in terms of educational background:
| Principal Electrical Engineer | Senior Electrical Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| 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 senior electrical engineers' demographics:
| Principal Electrical Engineer | Senior Electrical Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.4% Female, 6.6% | Male, 93.7% Female, 6.3% |
| 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, 4.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.3% Asian, 15.5% White, 63.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |