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The differences between staff electrical 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 staff electrical 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 $112,225 average annual salary of a staff electrical engineer.
The top three skills for a staff electrical engineer include electrical engineering, analog and electrical systems. The most important skills for a principal engineer are java, architecture, and python.
| Staff Electrical Engineer | Principal Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $112,225 | $130,213 |
| Hourly rate | $53.95 | $62.60 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 129,667 | 312,683 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
A staff electrical engineer specializes in designing and developing electrical systems and equipment. Their responsibilities typically include understanding the project's needs, conducting research and analysis, creating prototypes and test structures, performing installations and adjustments, resolving and repairing issues, and developing strategies to enhance existing systems. They must also perform regular maintenance checks to maintain a safe and efficient work environment. Moreover, a staff electrical engineer may train junior engineers while implementing the company's 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.
Staff electrical engineers and principal engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Staff Electrical Engineer | Principal Engineer | |
| Average salary | $112,225 | $130,213 |
| Salary range | Between $82,000 And $152,000 | Between $95,000 And $177,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Mateo, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Cheniere Energy | Grubhub |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between a staff electrical engineer and a principal engineer in terms of educational background:
| Staff Electrical Engineer | Principal Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | 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 staff electrical engineers' and principal engineers' demographics:
| Staff Electrical Engineer | Principal Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.6% Female, 5.4% | Male, 92.6% Female, 7.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.3% Asian, 15.1% White, 63.8% 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% |