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The differences between principal manufacturing engineers and 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 manufacturing engineer, becoming an engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a principal manufacturing engineer has an average salary of $94,463, which is higher than the $92,077 average annual salary of an engineer.
The top three skills for a principal manufacturing engineer include CAD, continuous improvement and process control. The most important skills for an engineer are python, cloud, and C++.
| Principal Manufacturing Engineer | Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $94,463 | $92,077 |
| Hourly rate | $45.41 | $44.27 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 91,957 | 618,207 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.33 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 43 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
Principle Manufacturing Engineers are responsible for leading an organization's operations involved in reducing cost, increasing production capacity, and implementing new efficient processes. Their duties include developing production capacity cost and quality targets and implementing workforce utilization, workspace efficiency, workflow, and equipment layout. They also manage project milestones by working closely with internal groups and suppliers. Principle Manufacturing Engineers review production data gathered, supervise production process improvements, and assist in the accurate manufacturing documentation.
Engineers are highly trained professionals who determine the feasibility of various projects, usually related to the construction industry. They are considered experts in mathematics and science, two disciplines that they need to use in designing and coming up with plans for projects. They should also be well-versed in different construction or industrial materials, and they ensure that appropriate materials are used for the project. They also ensure that the projects meet the requirements of the groups that hired them. They create spaces that would both address the needs of the end-users and the industry standards. They also ensure that the projects they make would stand the test of time.
Principal manufacturing engineers and engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Principal Manufacturing Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average salary | $94,463 | $92,077 |
| Salary range | Between $72,000 And $122,000 | Between $65,000 And $130,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Rosa, CA | Huntsville, AL |
| Highest paying state | California | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | ZS | Fort Bend County |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a principal manufacturing engineer and an engineer in terms of educational background:
| Principal Manufacturing Engineer | Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between principal manufacturing engineers' and engineers' demographics:
| Principal Manufacturing Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average age | 43 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.2% Female, 11.8% | Male, 86.3% Female, 13.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 10.4% Asian, 17.2% White, 63.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 3.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 15.0% White, 67.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |