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The differences between senior embedded software engineers and principal software engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a senior embedded software engineer, becoming a principal software engineer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a principal software engineer has an average salary of $134,230, which is higher than the $113,699 average annual salary of a senior embedded software engineer.
The top three skills for a senior embedded software engineer include software development, python and linux. The most important skills for a principal software engineer are java, python, and software development.
| Senior Embedded Software Engineer | Principal Software Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $113,699 | $134,230 |
| Hourly rate | $54.66 | $64.53 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 207,872 | 345,893 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
A senior embedded software engineer is in charge of designing and developing software for embedded systems and equipment. In a company setting, their responsibilities include coordinating with different teams, identifying and meeting the company's needs, establishing guidelines for new systems, and implementing solutions in vulnerable areas for a smooth and efficient workflow. Furthermore, as a senior embedded software engineer, it is essential to lead and serve as a mentor to junior engineers, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
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.
Senior embedded software engineers and principal software engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Embedded Software Engineer | Principal Software Engineer | |
| Average salary | $113,699 | $134,230 |
| Salary range | Between $88,000 And $146,000 | Between $98,000 And $182,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | California | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | ||
| Best paying industry | Retail | Retail |
There are a few differences between a senior embedded software engineer and a principal software engineer in terms of educational background:
| Senior Embedded Software Engineer | Principal Software Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Harvard University | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between senior embedded software engineers' and principal software engineers' demographics:
| Senior Embedded Software Engineer | Principal Software Engineer | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.5% Female, 9.5% | Male, 87.5% Female, 12.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.6% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.3% Asian, 30.5% White, 51.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |