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The differences between principal mechanical engineers and engineering managers 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 mechanical engineer, becoming an engineering manager takes usually requires More than 10 years. Additionally, an engineering manager has an average salary of $139,328, which is higher than the $102,451 average annual salary of a principal mechanical engineer.
The top three skills for a principal mechanical engineer include mechanical engineering, CAD and mechanical design. The most important skills for an engineering manager are java, project management, and continuous improvement.
| Principal Mechanical Engineer | Engineering Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $102,451 | $139,328 |
| Hourly rate | $49.26 | $66.98 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 127,517 | 67,124 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.33 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 41 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 6 | - |
A principal mechanical engineer is responsible for managing and maintaining the company's machinery, designing equipment that would support the business functions and operations efficiently, and inspecting tools for production processes. Principal mechanical engineers assist the work of junior engineers in manufacturing operations and resolving issues and tickets. They also conduct quality check procedures for the outputs, identify areas of improvement, and identify opportunities that would help the business grow more revenues and increase the company's profitability.
An engineering manager is responsible for managing the overall concept of engineering and construction projects, ensuring that the plan meets the budget goals and the client's specifications. Engineering managers approve designs, plan strategic procedures to follow the project's timetable, analyze current market trends, hire the best and efficient contractors, and coordinate with the clients for any changes and adjustments as needed. An engineering manager must have excellent knowledge of engineering disciplines, as well as leadership and communication skills, monitoring the team's performance throughout the project.
Principal mechanical engineers and engineering managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Principal Mechanical Engineer | Engineering Manager | |
| Average salary | $102,451 | $139,328 |
| Salary range | Between $78,000 And $133,000 | Between $99,000 And $195,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Mexico | California |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | Mixpanel |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a principal mechanical engineer and an engineering manager in terms of educational background:
| Principal Mechanical Engineer | Engineering Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor |
Here are the differences between principal mechanical engineers' and engineering managers' demographics:
| Principal Mechanical Engineer | Engineering Manager | |
| Average age | 41 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.4% Female, 5.6% | Male, 92.6% Female, 7.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.3% Asian, 15.7% White, 68.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.2% White, 71.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 9% |