Principal engineer demographics research summary. Zippia estimates principal engineer demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our principal engineer estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about principal engineers after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 62,397 principal engineers currently employed in the United States.
- 7.4% of all principal engineers are women, while 92.6% are men.
- The average principal engineer age is 40 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of principal engineers is White (67.9%), followed by Asian (16.6%), Hispanic or Latino (7.8%) and Unknown (4.5%).
- In 2022, women earned 103% of what men earned.
- 5% of all principal engineers are LGBT.
- Principal engineers are 55% more likely to work at public companies in comparison to private companies.
On This Page
Principal Engineer demographics by:
Principal Engineer gender statistics
7.4% of principal engineers are women and 92.6% of principal engineers are men.
- Male, 92.6%
- Female, 7.4%
Principal Engineer gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 92.6% |
| Female | 7.4% |
Principal Engineer gender pay gap
Women earn $1.03 for every $1 earned by men
![Principal Engineer Demographics and Statistics [2024]: Number Of Principal Engineers In The US (1)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw== "Principal Engineer Demographics and Statistics [2024]: Number Of Principal Engineers In The US (1)")
Male Income
$126,613
Female Income
$130,022
Principal Engineer gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in principal engineer positions over time. Currently, 7.4% of principal engineers are female.
Male
Female
100
%
80
%
60
%
40
%
20
%
%
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
Principal Engineer gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 93.84% | 6.16% |
| 2011 | 95.70% | 4.30% |
| 2012 | 94.43% | 5.57% |
| 2013 | 94.76% | 5.24% |
| 2014 | 94.10% | 5.90% |
| 2015 | 93.59% | 6.41% |
| 2016 | 94.32% | 5.68% |
| 2017 | 93.13% | 6.87% |
| 2018 | 93.51% | 6.49% |
| 2019 | 93.43% | 6.57% |
| 2020 | 91.91% | 8.09% |
| 2021 | 92.58% | 7.42% |
Principal Engineer related jobs gender ratio
We compared principal engineers with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, senior electronics design engineer and refrigeration engineer have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job Title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic Engineer | 11% | 89% |
| Principal Engineer | 93% | 7% |
| Machine Tool Designer | 99% | 1% |
| Refrigeration Engineer | 99% | 1% |
| Senior Electronics Design Engineer | 99% | 1% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
Senior Electronics Design Engineer
Machine Tool Designer
Principal Engineer
Domestic Engineer
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Principal Engineer demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among principal engineers is White, which makes up 67.9% of all principal engineers. Comparatively, 16.6% of principal engineers are Asian and 7.8% of principal engineers are Hispanic or Latino.
- White, 67.9%
- Asian, 16.6%
- Hispanic or Latino, 7.8%
- Unknown, 4.5%
- Black or African American, 3.1%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
Principal Engineer Race
| Principal Engineer Race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 67.9% |
| Asian | 16.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 7.8% |
| Unknown | 4.5% |
| Black or African American | 3.1% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.1% |
Principal Engineer race and ethnicity over time
See how principal engineer racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
- White
- Asian
- Hispanic or Latino
- Black or African American
Principal Engineer race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 75.15% | 3.15% | 14.48% | 5.43% |
| 2011 | 75.21% | 3.15% | 14.27% | 5.73% |
| 2012 | 75.64% | 3.37% | 13.43% | 6.06% |
| 2013 | 75.21% | 2.62% | 14.92% | 5.48% |
| 2014 | 73.24% | 2.72% | 16.03% | 6.48% |
| 2015 | 73.72% | 2.97% | 14.65% | 7.08% |
| 2016 | 71.74% | 3.17% | 15.74% | 7.67% |
| 2017 | 72.46% | 2.45% | 15.46% | 7.59% |
| 2018 | 73.25% | 2.76% | 15.10% | 6.82% |
| 2019 | 71.70% | 3.01% | 15.60% | 7.10% |
| 2020 | 68.19% | 2.71% | 17.10% | 8.46% |
| 2021 | 67.94% | 3.06% | 16.60% | 7.78% |
Principal Engineer wage gap by race
According to our data, hispanic or latino principal engineers have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black or african american principal engineers have the lowest average salary at $120,276.
$133,000
$130,000
$127,000
$124,000
$121,000
$118,000
Unknown
White
Black or African American
Asian
Hispanic or Latino
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $126,776 |
| White | $128,249 |
| Black or African American | $120,276 |
| Asian | $127,304 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $130,700 |
How Much Do Principal Engineer Make?
Average principal engineer age
See how the average age of principal engineers varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Principal Engineer age by race and gender
| Race | Male Age | Female Age |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 39 | 36 |
| White | 40 | 33 |
| Black or African American | 40 | 48 |
| Asian | 38.5 | 34 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 39 | 26 |
Principal Engineer age breakdown
The average age of principal engineers is 40+ years years old, representing 49% of the principal engineer population.
40+ years
30-40 years
20-30 years
Principal Engineer age breakdown
| Principal Engineer Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 49% |
| 30-40 years | 31% |
| 20-30 years | 20% |
Principal Engineer educational attainment
The most common degree for principal engineers is bachelor's degree, with 66% of principal engineers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 22% and master's degree degree at 6%.
- Bachelor's, 66%
- Master's, 22%
- Doctorate, 6%
- Associate, 4%
- Other Degrees, 2%
Principal Engineers by degree level
| Principal Engineer Degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 66% |
| Master's | 22% |
| Doctorate | 6% |
| Associate | 4% |
| Other Degrees | 2% |
Principal Engineer Jobs You Might Like
Principal Engineer wage gap by degree level
According to the data, principal engineers with a Doctorate degree earn more than those without, at $157,572 annually. With a Master's degree, principal engineers earn a median annual income of $145,589 compared to $128,889 for principal engineers with an Bachelor's degree.
$159,000
$153,000
$147,000
$141,000
$135,000
$129,000
$123,000
Master's Degree
Bachelor's Degree
Doctorate Degree
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $145,589 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $128,889 |
| Doctorate Degree | $157,572 |
Learn More About Principal Engineer Required Education
Principal Engineer employment statistics
Most principal engineers work for a public in the technology industry.
Company size where principal engineers work
Below, you can see the size of companies where principal engineers work.
< 50 employees
50 - 100 employees
100 - 500 employees
500 - 1,000 employees
1,000 - 10,000 employees
> 10,000
Principal Engineer jobs by employer size
| Company Size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 3% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 5% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 14% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 7% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 30% |
| > 10,000 employees | 41% |
Principal Engineer jobs by company type
Employees with the principal engineer job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most principal engineers prefer to work at public companies over private companies.
Education
Public
Private
Government
Principal Engineer jobs by sector
| Company Type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 1% |
| Public | 55% |
| Private | 42% |
| Government | 3% |
Principal Engineer jobs by industry
The most common industries for principal engineers are technology, manufacturing and professional.
Technology
Fortune 500
Manufacturing
Telecommunication
Professional
Show More
Principal Engineer industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Technology | 29% |
| Fortune 500 | 18% |
| Manufacturing | 7% |
| Telecommunication | 6% |
| Professional | 6% |
| Health Care | 4% |
| Finance | 4% |
| Start-up | 4% |
| Energy | 3% |
| Media | 2% |
| Internet | 2% |
| Transportation | 2% |
| Government | 2% |
| Automotive | 2% |
| Construction | 2% |
| Retail | 2% |
| Pharmaceutical | 1% |
| Non Profits | 1% |
| Insurance | 1% |
| Education | 1% |
Principal Engineer turnover and employment statistics
Principal Engineer unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for principal engineers between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Unemployment rate
Principal Engineer unemployment rate by year
| Year | Principal Engineer Unemployment Rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 6.09% |
| 2011 | 4.26% |
| 2012 | 2.86% |
| 2013 | 1.99% |
| 2014 | 1.63% |
| 2015 | 1.74% |
| 2016 | 1.46% |
| 2017 | 1.74% |
| 2018 | 1.20% |
| 2019 | 1.42% |
| 2020 | 2.46% |
| 2021 | 2.18% |
Average principal engineer tenure
The average principal engineer stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 6,968 principal engineers resumes in Zippia's database.
Less than one year
1-2 years
3-4 years
5-7 years
8-10 years
11+ years
Principal Engineer tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 8% |
| 1-2 years | 30% |
| 3-4 years | 18% |
| 5-7 years | 18% |
| 8-10 years | 9% |
| 11+ years | 17% |
Principal Engineer LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of principal engineers that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job Title | LGBT | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|
| Production Expert | 3.67% | 59,794 |
| Principal Engineer | 4.55% | - |
| Aerodynamic Consultant | 5.25% | 13,316 |
| Electrical Engineering Project Manager | 6.39% | 131,380 |
| Structural Analysis Engineer | 7.54% | 26,462 |
| Chemical Engineer | 8.92% | 42,176 |
| Materials Development Engineer | 10.43% | 104,788 |
Similar principal engineer jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|
| Production Expert | 3.67% | 59,794 |
| Aerodynamic Consultant | 5.25% | 13,316 |
| Electrical Engineering Project Manager | 6.39% | 131,380 |
| Structural Analysis Engineer | 7.54% | 26,462 |
| Chemical Engineer | 8.92% | 42,176 |
| Materials Development Engineer | 10.43% | 104,788 |
Foreign languages spoken by principal engineers
The most common foreign language among principal engineers is Spanish at 27.4%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is German at 11.9% and Chinese is the third-most popular at 8.3%.
- Spanish, 27.4%
- German, 11.9%
- Chinese, 8.3%
- Carrier, 8.3%
- Italian, 6.5%
- Other, 37.6%
Principal Engineer languages spoken
| Foreign Language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 27.4% |
| German | 11.9% |
| Chinese | 8.3% |
| Carrier | 8.3% |
| Italian | 6.5% |
| Other | 37.6% |
Principal Engineer Jobs
Principal Engineer location demographics
The amount you can make as a principal engineer can depend on where you live. For example, the highest salary of principal engineers is $192,965. Use our chart to find out where that salary is located.
Where do principal engineers earn the most?
Principal engineers earn the most in California, where the average principal engineer salary is $150,913. The map here shows where principal engineers earn the highest salaries in the U.S. The darker areas across the 50 states highlight the highest salaries.
Average Salary
![Principal Engineer Demographics and Statistics [2024]: Number Of Principal Engineers In The US (5)](https://i0.wp.com/media.zippia.com/salary-maps/2.4.8/principal-engineer.svgz "Principal Engineer Demographics and Statistics [2024]: Number Of Principal Engineers In The US (5)")
Which city has the most Principal Engineers?
By looking through more than 6,968 resumes, we found that the most popular places for principal engineers are San Jose, CA and Houston, TX.
Number of Principal Engineers
![Principal Engineer Demographics and Statistics [2024]: Number Of Principal Engineers In The US (6)](https://i0.wp.com/media.zippia.com/demographics-maps/2.4.4/resume-principal-engineer.svgz "Principal Engineer Demographics and Statistics [2024]: Number Of Principal Engineers In The US (6)")
Principal Engineer jobs by state
| Rank | State | Number of Jobs | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 11,804 | $150,913 |
| 2 | Texas | 4,059 | $124,463 |
| 3 | Florida | 3,175 | $111,430 |
| 4 | Virginia | 3,063 | $116,745 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | 2,944 | $130,183 |
| 6 | Washington | 2,900 | $134,651 |
| 7 | Illinois | 2,704 | $108,620 |
| 8 | New York | 2,620 | $110,793 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | 2,079 | $111,182 |
| 10 | Colorado | 1,915 | $109,170 |
| 11 | Maryland | 1,908 | $125,595 |
| 12 | North Carolina | 1,863 | $101,052 |
| 13 | Arizona | 1,790 | $128,540 |
| 14 | Georgia | 1,763 | $110,040 |
| 15 | New Jersey | 1,689 | $120,957 |
| 16 | Minnesota | 1,554 | $102,027 |
| 17 | Ohio | 1,464 | $100,660 |
| 18 | Michigan | 1,408 | $111,581 |
| 19 | Oregon | 1,327 | $127,305 |
| 20 | Utah | 1,051 | $104,292 |
| 21 | Indiana | 1,044 | $97,362 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | 1,038 | $92,196 |
| 23 | Alabama | 818 | $101,770 |
| 24 | Missouri | 812 | $101,208 |
| 25 | Connecticut | 750 | $117,063 |
| 26 | District of Columbia | 553 | $138,193 |
| 27 | Tennessee | 543 | $113,844 |
| 28 | Kansas | 532 | $95,451 |
| 29 | South Carolina | 507 | $107,252 |
| 30 | Kentucky | 489 | $100,470 |
| 31 | Iowa | 451 | $95,934 |
| 32 | New Hampshire | 396 | $122,845 |
| 33 | Idaho | 395 | $122,609 |
| 34 | Arkansas | 390 | $98,660 |
| 35 | New Mexico | 337 | $130,312 |
| 36 | Nebraska | 336 | $99,062 |
| 37 | Nevada | 334 | $127,752 |
| 38 | Louisiana | 279 | $129,188 |
| 39 | Delaware | 267 | $123,881 |
| 40 | Montana | 266 | $95,860 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | 236 | $104,537 |
| 42 | Vermont | 229 | $106,444 |
| 43 | Rhode Island | 224 | $120,745 |
| 44 | West Virginia | 163 | $120,110 |
| 45 | Maine | 154 | $123,349 |
| 46 | Mississippi | 143 | $95,152 |
| 47 | Hawaii | 133 | $124,765 |
| 48 | Wyoming | 112 | $90,004 |
| 49 | Alaska | 110 | $114,852 |
| 50 | North Dakota | 107 | $104,531 |
| 51 | South Dakota | 93 | $105,618 |
Where are principal engineers in high demand?
Principal engineers are in high demand in Greenwood Village, CO. There are currently 82 job openings for principal engineers here. We looked over job openings to determine where in the country principal engineers are in the most demand.
Jobs Openings
![Principal Engineer Demographics and Statistics [2024]: Number Of Principal Engineers In The US (7)](https://i0.wp.com/media.zippia.com/demographics-maps/2.4.4/listing-principal-engineer.svgz "Principal Engineer Demographics and Statistics [2024]: Number Of Principal Engineers In The US (7)")
Principal Engineer Demographics FAQs
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Updated April 5, 2024
![Principal Engineer Demographics and Statistics [2024]: Number Of Principal Engineers In The US (2024)](data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mP8/h8AAvMB+NzmkbcAAAAASUVORK5CYII=)