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The differences between principal software engineers and senior software development engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a principal software engineer and a senior software development engineer. Additionally, a principal software engineer has an average salary of $134,230, which is higher than the $116,926 average annual salary of a senior software development engineer.
The top three skills for a principal software engineer include java, python and software development. The most important skills for a senior software development engineer are java, software development, and python.
| Principal Software Engineer | Senior Software Development Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $134,230 | $116,926 |
| Hourly rate | $64.53 | $56.21 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 345,893 | 346,833 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A Principal Software Engineer is responsible for the technical aspects of an organization's projects. They diagnose, document, and troubleshoot systems to resolve problems identified through testing, as well as implement strategies to improve integration and efficiency.
A senior software development engineer specializes in leading the efforts in designing and developing software and information systems, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Their responsibilities typically revolve around installing and repairing existing computer systems, conducting regular maintenance checks, troubleshooting, testing new designs, and performing research and analysis to identify the strengths and weaknesses of operations, improving them to achieve optimal performance. Furthermore, as a senior software development engineer, it is essential to monitor and encourage the team, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Principal software engineers and senior software development engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Principal Software Engineer | Senior Software Development Engineer | |
| Average salary | $134,230 | $116,926 |
| Salary range | Between $98,000 And $182,000 | Between $87,000 And $156,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Washington |
| Best paying company | Roku | |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a principal software engineer and a senior software development engineer in terms of educational background:
| Principal Software Engineer | Senior Software Development Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between principal software engineers' and senior software development engineers' demographics:
| Principal Software Engineer | Senior Software Development Engineer | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.5% Female, 12.5% | Male, 83.9% Female, 16.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.4% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 29.9% White, 52.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.0% Asian, 30.6% White, 52.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |