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The differences between principal engineers and professional engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a principal engineer and a professional engineer. Additionally, a principal engineer has an average salary of $130,213, which is higher than the $86,348 average annual salary of a professional engineer.
The top three skills for a principal engineer include java, architecture and python. The most important skills for a professional engineer are civil engineering, project management, and PE.
| Principal Engineer | Professional Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $130,213 | $86,348 |
| Hourly rate | $62.60 | $41.51 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 312,683 | 74,009 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
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 professional engineer specializes in designing and developing systems and structures through different principles. Although their duties will vary upon their industry of employment, it typically includes performing site assessments and examinations, studying the purpose and goals of the project, developing plans and guidelines, monitoring the progress of operations, and resolving issues and concerns promptly and efficiently. They may work together with architects and senior engineers, liaise with clients or contractors, and perform regular site inspections. Furthermore, a professional engineer must implement safety protocols and regulations to maintain a safe and efficient work environment.
Principal engineers and professional engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Principal Engineer | Professional Engineer | |
| Average salary | $130,213 | $86,348 |
| Salary range | Between $95,000 And $177,000 | Between $63,000 And $118,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Mateo, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Grubhub | Bayer |
| Best paying industry | Telecommunication | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a principal engineer and a professional engineer in terms of educational background:
| Principal Engineer | Professional Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Civil Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between principal engineers' and professional engineers' demographics:
| Principal Engineer | Professional Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| 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, 4.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.7% Asian, 12.6% White, 66.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |