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The differences between technical aides and principal engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a principal engineer has an average salary of $130,213, which is higher than the $32,427 average annual salary of a technical aide.
The top three skills for a technical aide include patients, powerpoint and patient care. The most important skills for a principal engineer are java, architecture, and python.
| Technical Aide | Principal Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $32,427 | $130,213 |
| Hourly rate | $15.59 | $62.60 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 107,770 | 312,683 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Years of experience | - | 6 |
The technical aide's/assistant's job is a combination of administrative and technical support for either an individual, internal team, or business clients. Some basic tasks include printing and filing documents, answering phone calls, providing basic technical assistance or equipment operation, composing emails, and typing reports for the company manager. This job covers a wide variety of fields, including healthcare, manufacturing, computer science, and banking. Skills required for this position include high-level administrative and technical training skills, the ability to work under pressure and strict supervision, proficiency in basic computer programs, and working knowledge of the email system and computer hardware with excellent communication skills.
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.
Technical aides and principal engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Technical Aide | Principal Engineer | |
| Average salary | $32,427 | $130,213 |
| Salary range | Between $24,000 And $42,000 | Between $95,000 And $177,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | San Mateo, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | California |
| Best paying company | MultiTech | Grubhub |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between a technical aide and a principal engineer in terms of educational background:
| Technical Aide | Principal Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Business | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between technical aides' and principal engineers' demographics:
| Technical Aide | Principal Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 53.0% Female, 47.0% | Male, 92.6% Female, 7.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 17.4% Asian, 8.6% White, 58.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.4% | 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% |