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The differences between principal test 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 test engineer, becoming an engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a principal test engineer has an average salary of $116,493, which is higher than the $92,077 average annual salary of an engineer.
The top three skills for a principal test engineer include python, C++ and java. The most important skills for an engineer are python, cloud, and C++.
| Principal Test Engineer | Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $116,493 | $92,077 |
| Hourly rate | $56.01 | $44.27 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 96,539 | 618,207 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.33 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
Principal Test Engineers test automation tools and frameworks like Selenium, Appium, and Ranorex. They make sure that the software their companies offer is safe and reliable for consumer use. Being a principal test engineer requires testing to influence better software design, promoting good engineering practice, security, testability, scalability, drafting bug prevention strategies, and reliability. They are responsible for defining test goals, preparing and executing system-level functional tests, providing new project forecasts based on the provided information, and improving the current test solutions by reducing the test time, repeat tests, and yield analysis.
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 test engineers and engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Principal Test Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average salary | $116,493 | $92,077 |
| Salary range | Between $84,000 And $159,000 | Between $65,000 And $130,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Huntsville, AL |
| Highest paying state | California | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | Fort Bend County |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a principal test engineer and an engineer in terms of educational background:
| Principal Test Engineer | Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between principal test engineers' and engineers' demographics:
| Principal Test Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.8% Female, 10.2% | Male, 86.3% Female, 13.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.0% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | 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 | 11% | 5% |