Know your market value with insights across roles — from individual contributors to executive pay and overall company compensation trends.
Access a suite of powerful calculators to make data-driven career decisions.
Automate pay cycles, manage job architectures, and ensure pay equity with AI-powered compensation platforms.
Access validated salary benchmarks, labor market trends, and minimum wage data to stay competitive.
Participate in and purchase industry-specific salary surveys to obtain the most accurate, peer-reported pay data.
As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Principal Security Engineer in South Carolina is $121,672 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $58.
However, a Principal Security Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
AI-Powered Talent
Recruit with AI
Principal Security Engineer Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $129,611 | $10,801 | $2,493 | $62 |
| Average | $121,672 | $10,139 | $2,340 | $58 |
| 25th Percentile | $108,645 | $9,054 | $2,089 | $52 |
thestahlcompanies - Charleston, SC
thestahlcompanies - Charleston, SC
Hazen and Sawyer - North Charleston, SC
Westinghouse Electric - USA - Hopkins, SC
A Principal Security Engineer's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of a Principal Security Engineer's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here’s how the average salary grows at different career stages:
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| DevOps En... Level Principal Security Engineer | $76,462 |
| DevOps En... Level Principal Security Engineer | $92,799 |
| Principal... Level Principal Security Engineer | $124,387 |
| DevOps En... Level Principal Security Engineer | $139,136 |
| DevOps En... Level Principal Security Engineer | $153,729 |
What Am I Worth?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Principal Security Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:
For Principal Security Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 100% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Aerospace & Defense sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, Principal Security Engineer positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Principal Security Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biotechnology | $182,508 | $88.0 | 50% |
Understanding how a Principal Security Engineer's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $129,611 | $10,801 | $2,493 | $62 |
| Average | $121,672 | $10,139 | $2,340 | $58 |
| 25th Percentile | $108,645 | $9,054 | $2,089 | $52 |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Principal Security Engineer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
Hazen and Sawyer
North Charleston, SC
Hazen and Sawyer | North Charleston, SC
Job Description. Job Description. Seeking Professional Licensed Engineer with 5 – 15 years of experience in the water industry. Background and experience i... more
10 Days Ago
Hazen and Sawyer
Greenville, SC
Hazen and Sawyer | Greenville, SC
Job Description. Job Description. Seeking Professional Licensed Engineer with 5 – 15 years of experience in the water industry. Background and experience i... more
11 Days Ago
Hazen and Sawyer
Columbia, SC
Hazen and Sawyer | Columbia, SC
Job Description. Job Description. Seeking Professional Licensed Engineer with 5 – 15 years of experience in the water industry. Background and experience i... more
11 Days Ago
Dodge Industrial, Inc.
Simpsonville, SC
Dodge Industrial, Inc. | Simpsonville, SC
Job Description. Job Description. Job Title. Principal R&D Project Engineer. Location. Simpsonville, SC. Reports To. R&D Engineering Manager. Employment Ty... more
7 Days Ago
Dodge Industrial, Inc.
Simpsonville, SC
Dodge Industrial, Inc. | Simpsonville, SC
Job Description. Job Description. Job Title. Principal R&D Engineer (Bearings). Location. Simpsonville, SC. Reports To. R&D Engineering Manager. Employment... more
10 Days Ago
Navarro Inc.
Greenville, SC
Navarro Inc. | Greenville, SC
Job Description. Job Description. Navarro Research and Engineering is recruiting a. HVAC Principal Design Engineer. (3817) in Greenville, SC. Navarro Resea... more
11 Days Ago
Get a Salary Increase
Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.
Search Job Openings
Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.
Adjust Employee Salary
Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.
Price My Industry Jobs
Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.
Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.
Explore Cost of Living CalculatorSalary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.
Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.
Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:
