Principal Cyber-security Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does a Principal Cyber-security Engineer make in the United States?

As of March 01, 2026, the average salary for a Principal Cyber-security Engineer in the United States is $185,735 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $89.

However, a Principal Cyber-security Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $202,411
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $176,373 to $194,464
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $167,849
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View as table View as graph 25% $176,373 10% $167,849 90% $202,411 75% $194,464 $185,735 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Principal Cyber-security Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $194,464 $16,205 $3,740 $93
Average $185,735 $15,478 $3,572 $89
25th Percentile $176,373 $14,698 $3,392 $85
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Key Factors That Influence Principal Cyber-security Engineer Salaries

A Principal Cyber-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.

How Experience Level Affects Principal Cyber-security Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Principal Cyber-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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $136,018
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $157,042
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $185,093
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $216,341
  • Expert (over 8 years): $133,836
Levels Salary
Cyber Sec... Level Principal Cyber-security Engineer$136,018
Cyber Sec... Level Principal Cyber-security Engineer$157,042
Principal... Level Principal Cyber-security Engineer$185,093
Cyber Sec... Level Principal Cyber-security Engineer$216,341
Cyber Sec... Level Principal Cyber-security Engineer$133,836
$136,018 0 yr
$157,042 < 2 yrs
$185,093 2-4 yrs
$216,341 5-8 yrs
$133,836 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Principal Cyber-security Engineers

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:

  • San Jose: $234,268
  • San Francisco: $231,964
  • Oakland: $226,820

What Skills Can Increase a Principal Cyber-security Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 5.53% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Security Controls (Mentioned in 2.41% Job Postings): A safeguard or countermeasure prescribed for an information system or an organization designed to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of its information and to meet a set of defined security requirements.
  • Computer Science (Mentioned in 1.97% Job Postings): Computer science is the study of computation, automation, and information. Computer science spans theoretical disciplines (such as algorithms, theory of computation, information theory, and automation) to practical disciplines.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 5.53%
Security Controls 2.41%
Computer Science 1.97%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Principal Cyber-security Engineer's salary.
  • Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Initiative: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Cloud Security: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Commitment
 $198,736
7%
Initiative
 $195,022
5%
Cloud Security
 $195,022
5%
Products and Services
 $195,022
5%
Presentation
 $195,022
5%
Identity and Access Management
 $193,164
4%
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Principal Cyber-security Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Principal Cyber-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.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on March 01, 2026
$176,373
Average $185,735/year
$194,464
$14,698
Average $15,478/month
$16,205
$3,392
Average $3,572/week
$3,740
$85
Average $89/hour
$93
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $194,464 $16,205 $3,740 $93
Average $185,735 $15,478 $3,572 $89
25th Percentile $176,373 $14,698 $3,392 $85

Salaries of jobs related to Principal Cyber-security Engineer

Salary Trends for Principal Cyber-security Engineer

Salaries for a Principal Cyber-security Engineer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary increased from $167,357 in 2023 to around $167,819 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Principal Cyber-security Engineer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Principal Cyber-security Engineer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$167,357
2024
$169,715
2025
$167,819
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $167,357
2024 $169,715
2025 $167,819
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Principal Cyber-security Engineer

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Common company salaries for Principal Cyber-security Engineer

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

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