Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between principal electrical engineers and senior 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 a senior engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a principal electrical engineer has an average salary of $121,822, which is higher than the $108,743 average annual salary of a senior engineer.
The top three skills for a principal electrical engineer include electrical engineering, RF and analog. The most important skills for a senior engineer are java, python, and architecture.
| Principal Electrical Engineer | Senior Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $121,822 | $108,743 |
| Hourly rate | $58.57 | $52.28 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 112,926 | 343,200 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| 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.
A senior engineer is responsible for overseeing all operations within a designated area. With years of experience and expertise, a senior engineer may take charge of establishing goals, deadlines, and budgets for a particular project. They must devise and implement strategies that would improve the quality of workflow and deliver significant results. Furthermore, a senior manager must also supervise a team of skilled engineers, leading them in the joint effort to reach the company's vision and mission, all while adhering to the safety standards and regulations.
Principal electrical engineers and senior engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Principal Electrical Engineer | Senior Engineer | |
| Average salary | $121,822 | $108,743 |
| Salary range | Between $93,000 And $159,000 | Between $82,000 And $144,000 |
| Highest paying City | Redwood City, CA | San Mateo, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | Roku |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Start-up |
There are a few differences between a principal electrical engineer and a senior engineer in terms of educational background:
| Principal Electrical Engineer | Senior Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| 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 engineers' demographics:
| Principal Electrical Engineer | Senior Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.4% Female, 6.6% | Male, 89.1% Female, 10.9% |
| 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, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 17.1% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 5% |