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The differences between principal engineers and senior mechanical 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 senior mechanical engineer. Additionally, a principal engineer has an average salary of $130,213, which is higher than the $103,836 average annual salary of a senior mechanical engineer.
The top three skills for a principal engineer include java, architecture and python. The most important skills for a senior mechanical engineer are mechanical engineering, CAD, and solidworks.
| Principal Engineer | Senior Mechanical Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $130,213 | $103,836 |
| Hourly rate | $62.60 | $49.92 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 312,683 | 98,063 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| 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 senior mechanical engineer is responsible for designing and improving mechanical equipment, as well as industrial devices and machinery. Senior mechanical engineers verify the materials and resources, ensuring that the processes meet the budget goals from clients' specifications and requirements. They also monitor the manufacturing process, developing strategic procedures for operations improvement, and maximizing staff productivity. A senior mechanical engineer runs multiple diagnostic tests to guarantee the stability and efficiency of the item and coordinating with the client for any plan adjustments as needed.
Principal engineers and senior mechanical engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Principal Engineer | Senior Mechanical Engineer | |
| Average salary | $130,213 | $103,836 |
| Salary range | Between $95,000 And $177,000 | Between $79,000 And $136,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Mateo, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Grubhub | |
| Best paying industry | Telecommunication | Energy |
There are a few differences between a principal engineer and a senior mechanical engineer in terms of educational background:
| Principal Engineer | Senior Mechanical Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between principal engineers' and senior mechanical engineers' demographics:
| Principal Engineer | Senior Mechanical Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.6% Female, 7.4% | Male, 94.2% Female, 5.8% |
| 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, 3.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.3% Asian, 15.8% White, 68.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |