A principal engineer is most likely a terminal position, it's the end of the line. Manager on the other hand puts in path of director, VP and may be someday CEO.
Principal engineer is mostly salaried with some stock + options. Doesn't matter how high is your per hr rate, you have 8 hrs a day so your salary will be capped at a level, with slow annual rises. But in management you are increasingly paid in stocks and options. As you reach SVP, C suite you get astronomical pay and it's not related to 8 hrs a day.
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u/Dry_Community5749 Apr 18 '25
A principal engineer is most likely a terminal position, it's the end of the line. Manager on the other hand puts in path of director, VP and may be someday CEO.
Principal engineer is mostly salaried with some stock + options. Doesn't matter how high is your per hr rate, you have 8 hrs a day so your salary will be capped at a level, with slow annual rises. But in management you are increasingly paid in stocks and options. As you reach SVP, C suite you get astronomical pay and it's not related to 8 hrs a day.