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The differences between systems engineers staff 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 systems engineer staff, 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 $129,611 average annual salary of a systems engineer staff.
The top three skills for a systems engineer staff include architecture, DOD and MATLAB. The most important skills for a principal engineer are java, architecture, and python.
| Systems Engineer Staff | Principal Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $129,611 | $130,213 |
| Hourly rate | $62.31 | $62.60 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 304,494 | 312,683 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 43 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
A systems engineer staff is responsible for designing and developing systems and software that optimize business operations, ensuring smooth workflow and client satisfaction. They primarily conduct research and analysis to identify the needs of the company and its clients, examine existing systems to identify areas needing improvements, install applications, and perform regular maintenance checks, providing corrective measures as required. Furthermore, as a systems engineer staff, it is essential to provide technical support within the company, all while implementing its 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.
Systems engineers staff and principal engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Systems Engineer Staff | Principal Engineer | |
| Average salary | $129,611 | $130,213 |
| Salary range | Between $95,000 And $175,000 | 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 | Telecommunication | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between a systems engineer staff and a principal engineer in terms of educational background:
| Systems Engineer Staff | Principal Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northeastern University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between systems engineers staff' and principal engineers' demographics:
| Systems Engineer Staff | Principal Engineer | |
| Average age | 43 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 84.1% Female, 15.9% | Male, 92.6% Female, 7.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.6% Asian, 13.8% White, 61.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | 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 | 9% | 5% |