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The differences between principal quality engineers and 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 quality engineer, becoming an engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a principal quality engineer has an average salary of $103,677, which is higher than the $92,077 average annual salary of an engineer.
The top three skills for a principal quality engineer include sigma, corrective action and ISO. The most important skills for an engineer are python, cloud, and C++.
| Principal Quality Engineer | Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $103,677 | $92,077 |
| Hourly rate | $49.84 | $44.27 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 120,965 | 618,207 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.33 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
Principal quality engineers are engineering professionals who are responsible for providing quality engineering support and technical guidance to help the quality activities of a project. They are required to supervise the quality management system to monitor the progress of projects and ensure their timely deliveries. They must provide quality assurance (QA) solutions while evaluating the efficiency of their existing QA processes. Principal quality engineers must also identify technical risks and challenges by suggesting corrective actions and QA process improvements.
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 quality engineers and engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Principal Quality Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average salary | $103,677 | $92,077 |
| Salary range | Between $80,000 And $133,000 | Between $65,000 And $130,000 |
| Highest paying City | Redwood City, CA | Huntsville, AL |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | Palo Alto Networks | Fort Bend County |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a principal quality engineer and an engineer in terms of educational background:
| Principal Quality Engineer | Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | New York University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between principal quality engineers' and engineers' demographics:
| Principal Quality Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 81.0% Female, 19.0% | Male, 86.3% Female, 13.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.5% Asian, 15.4% White, 65.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | 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 | 4% | 5% |