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The differences between senior field engineers and principal 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 field engineer, 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 $97,104 average annual salary of a senior field engineer.
The top three skills for a senior field engineer include RF, technical support and excellent interpersonal. The most important skills for a principal engineer are java, architecture, and python.
| Senior Field Engineer | Principal Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $97,104 | $130,213 |
| Hourly rate | $46.68 | $62.60 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 86,767 | 312,683 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
A senior field engineer is in charge of overseeing and providing technical support on-site, helping operations run smoothly and efficiently. Among their responsibilities include performing installations and upgrades, performing research and analysis, managing staff, producing progress reports, and conducting inspections, ensuring compliance with state laws and regulations. They must also perform regular maintenance checks on equipment, performing corrective repairs and adjustments when necessary. Furthermore, as a senior field engineer, it is essential to lead and serve as a mentor to junior engineers while implementing the site's safety policies and regulations.
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.
Senior field engineers and principal engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Field Engineer | Principal Engineer | |
| Average salary | $97,104 | $130,213 |
| Salary range | Between $67,000 And $139,000 | Between $95,000 And $177,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Mateo, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | Grubhub |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between a senior field engineer and a principal engineer in terms of educational background:
| Senior Field Engineer | Principal Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between senior field engineers' and principal engineers' demographics:
| Senior Field Engineer | Principal Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 95.1% Female, 4.9% | Male, 92.6% Female, 7.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.5% Asian, 14.3% White, 64.4% 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 | 6% | 5% |