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The differences between principal electrical engineers and senior principal 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 principal engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a senior principal engineer has an average salary of $130,642, which is higher than the $121,822 average annual salary of a principal electrical engineer.
The top three skills for a principal electrical engineer include electrical engineering, RF and analog. The most important skills for a senior principal engineer are python, architecture, and java.
| Principal Electrical Engineer | Senior Principal Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $121,822 | $130,642 |
| Hourly rate | $58.57 | $62.81 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 112,926 | 272,459 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| 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 principal engineer is responsible for leading engineering tasks within an organization and reports project updates to senior management. Senior principal engineers develop strategic methods and principles to improve the technical stability and efficiency of the company's systems, creating business proposals according to clients' specifications, and negotiating contracts with suppliers and other service providers. They also train new staff and identify innovations and business opportunities that would generate more revenue resources for the company.
Principal electrical engineers and senior principal engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Principal Electrical Engineer | Senior Principal Engineer | |
| Average salary | $121,822 | $130,642 |
| Salary range | Between $93,000 And $159,000 | Between $93,000 And $182,000 |
| Highest paying City | Redwood City, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | Airbnb |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Professional |
There are a few differences between a principal electrical engineer and a senior principal engineer in terms of educational background:
| Principal Electrical Engineer | Senior Principal 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 | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between principal electrical engineers' and senior principal engineers' demographics:
| Principal Electrical Engineer | Senior Principal Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.4% Female, 6.6% | Male, 88.2% Female, 11.8% |
| 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, 17.2% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 5% |