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The differences between principal process engineers and principal engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a principal process engineer, becoming a principal engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a principal engineer has an average salary of $130,213, which is higher than the $126,348 average annual salary of a principal process engineer.
The top three skills for a principal process engineer include process engineering, continuous improvement and engineering design. The most important skills for a principal engineer are java, architecture, and python.
| Principal Process Engineer | Principal Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $126,348 | $130,213 |
| Hourly rate | $60.74 | $62.60 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 82,358 | 312,683 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
A Principal Process Engineer is responsible for analyzing process technologies and proposal support for the engineering activities of the organization. They may work in various industries, such as chemical, petrochemical, agriculture, software development, and biotechnological.
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.
Principal process engineers and principal engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Principal Process Engineer | Principal Engineer | |
| Average salary | $126,348 | $130,213 |
| Salary range | Between $93,000 And $171,000 | Between $95,000 And $177,000 |
| Highest paying City | Tucson, AZ | San Mateo, CA |
| Highest paying state | Arizona | California |
| Best paying company | Grubhub | |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between a principal process engineer and a principal engineer in terms of educational background:
| Principal Process Engineer | Principal Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Chemical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between principal process engineers' and principal engineers' demographics:
| Principal Process Engineer | Principal Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 84.4% Female, 15.6% | Male, 92.6% Female, 7.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.6% Asian, 15.7% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 5% |