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The differences between principal engineers and principal software engineers 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 a principal software engineer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a principal software engineer has an average salary of $134,230, which is higher than the $130,213 average annual salary of a principal engineer.
The top three skills for a principal engineer include java, architecture and python. The most important skills for a principal software engineer are java, python, and software development.
| Principal Engineer | Principal Software Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $130,213 | $134,230 |
| Hourly rate | $62.60 | $64.53 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 312,683 | 345,893 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 41 | 39 |
| 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.
A Principal Software Engineer is responsible for the technical aspects of an organization's projects. They diagnose, document, and troubleshoot systems to resolve problems identified through testing, as well as implement strategies to improve integration and efficiency.
Principal engineers and principal software engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Principal Engineer | Principal Software Engineer | |
| Average salary | $130,213 | $134,230 |
| Salary range | Between $95,000 And $177,000 | Between $98,000 And $182,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Mateo, CA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | California | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Grubhub | |
| Best paying industry | Telecommunication | Retail |
There are a few differences between a principal engineer and a principal software engineer in terms of educational background:
| Principal Engineer | Principal Software Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between principal engineers' and principal software engineers' demographics:
| Principal Engineer | Principal Software Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.6% Female, 7.4% | Male, 87.5% Female, 12.5% |
| 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, 4.4% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 29.9% White, 52.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 8% |