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The differences between principal technologists and principal engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-8 years to become a principal technologist, 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 $124,965 average annual salary of a principal technologist.
The top three skills for a principal technologist include java, cloud and infrastructure. The most important skills for a principal engineer are java, architecture, and python.
| Principal Technologist | Principal Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $124,965 | $130,213 |
| Hourly rate | $60.08 | $62.60 |
| Growth rate | 16% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 90,060 | 312,683 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 47 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 6 |
A principal technologist is responsible for developing and delivering innovative solutions and providing contributions technically to various projects. Your duties will include providing assistance in improving the chemical supply chain that will benefit key product units (KPU), managing and creating user accounts, directory access, and server permissions, and managing the in-house services related to the internet. In addition, you will train and educate customers on how to use certain software and hardware as requested and performing development and architecture for database, software, and infrastructure.
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 technologists and principal engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Principal Technologist | Principal Engineer | |
| Average salary | $124,965 | $130,213 |
| Salary range | Between $95,000 And $163,000 | Between $95,000 And $177,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Mateo, CA |
| Highest paying state | Oregon | California |
| Best paying company | Airbnb | Grubhub |
| Best paying industry | Telecommunication | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between a principal technologist and a principal engineer in terms of educational background:
| Principal Technologist | Principal Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Business | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Carnegie Mellon University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between principal technologists' and principal engineers' demographics:
| Principal Technologist | Principal Engineer | |
| Average age | 47 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 83.1% Female, 16.9% | Male, 92.6% Female, 7.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.7% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 10.0% Asian, 12.8% White, 65.1% 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 | 11% | 5% |