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The differences between principal engineers and architects can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a principal engineer, becoming an architect takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a principal engineer has an average salary of $130,213, which is higher than the $86,635 average annual salary of an architect.
The top three skills for a principal engineer include java, architecture and python. The most important skills for an architect are cloud, java, and infrastructure.
| Principal Engineer | Architect | |
| Yearly salary | $130,213 | $86,635 |
| Hourly rate | $62.60 | $41.65 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 312,683 | 94,621 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Average age | 41 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
A principal engineer is responsible for monitoring the overall design phase of the construction process, including coordinating with the client for progress and updates, as well as performing adjustments as needed based on clients' specifications and requirements. Principal engineers also inspect the materials and resources used to ensure that the project stays within the budget goals and set timeframe. They should have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in preparing reports and training new staff.
Architects are licensed professionals who specialize in art and science of design, building constructions, and structures. They play a vital role in the construction and not only responsible for the appearance but also the safety of users. They ensure that every structure is functional, safe, cost-effective, and suit the needs of the future occupants. They closely monitor the working progress to make sure that the project is built according to plan. Some architects are focused mainly on creating designs while some are exclusive in the production of building plans or "blueprints".
Principal engineers and architects have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Principal Engineer | Architect | |
| Average salary | $130,213 | $86,635 |
| Salary range | Between $95,000 And $177,000 | Between $54,000 And $137,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Mateo, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Grubhub | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Telecommunication | Technology |
There are a few differences between a principal engineer and an architect in terms of educational background:
| Principal Engineer | Architect | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Architecture |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Cornell University |
Here are the differences between principal engineers' and architects' demographics:
| Principal Engineer | Architect | |
| Average age | 41 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.6% Female, 7.4% | Male, 76.7% Female, 23.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 16.6% White, 67.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 2.3% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.8% Asian, 16.0% White, 65.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 15% |