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The differences between principal systems engineers and engineering managers 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 systems 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 $133,208 average annual salary of a principal systems engineer.
The top three skills for a principal systems engineer include systems engineering, DOD and C++. The most important skills for an engineering manager are java, project management, and continuous improvement.
| Principal Systems Engineer | Engineering Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $133,208 | $139,328 |
| Hourly rate | $64.04 | $66.98 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 146,444 | 67,124 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.33 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 43 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 2 | - |
A Principal Systems Engineer supervises a group of other engineers in technical projects. They develop and lead systems engineering projects and efforts.
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 systems engineers and engineering managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Principal Systems Engineer | Engineering Manager | |
| Average salary | $133,208 | $139,328 |
| Salary range | Between $97,000 And $181,000 | Between $99,000 And $195,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | eBay | Mixpanel |
| Best paying industry | Telecommunication | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a principal systems engineer and an engineering manager in terms of educational background:
| Principal Systems Engineer | Engineering Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northeastern University | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor |
Here are the differences between principal systems engineers' and engineering managers' demographics:
| Principal Systems Engineer | Engineering Manager | |
| Average age | 43 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.7% Female, 10.3% | Male, 92.6% Female, 7.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.3% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 12.1% Asian, 12.8% White, 61.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | 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 | 9% | 9% |