Principal Cyber-security Engineer Salary in Foothill Ranch, CA

How much does a Principal Cyber-security Engineer make in Foothill Ranch, CA?

As of March 01, 2026, the average salary for a Principal Cyber-security Engineer in Foothill Ranch, CA is $204,048 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $98.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $222,369
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $193,763 to $213,638
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $184,399
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View as table View as graph 25% $193,763 10% $184,399 90% $222,369 75% $213,638 $204,048 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 $213,638 $17,803 $4,108 $103
Average $204,048 $17,004 $3,924 $98
25th Percentile $193,763 $16,147 $3,726 $93
Check out Principal Cyber-security Engineer Job Openings in Foothill Ranch, CA
Cyber Security Engineer, Principal

Qualcomm - San Diego, CA

Cyber Systems Engineer/Principal Cyber Systems Engineer

Northrop Grumman Corp. (JP) - San Diego, CA

Cyber Security Engineer

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory - Berkeley, CA

Cyber Security Engineer

TalentBurst Inc - San Jose, CA

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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, skills 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): $149,430
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $172,526
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $203,344
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $237,672
  • Expert (over 8 years): $147,033
Levels Salary
Cyber Sec... Level Principal Cyber-security Engineer$149,430
Cyber Sec... Level Principal Cyber-security Engineer$172,526
Principal... Level Principal Cyber-security Engineer$203,344
Cyber Sec... Level Principal Cyber-security Engineer$237,672
Cyber Sec... Level Principal Cyber-security Engineer$147,033
$149,430 0 yr
$172,526 < 2 yrs
$203,344 2-4 yrs
$237,672 5-8 yrs
$147,033 > 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
 $218,332
7%
Initiative
 $214,251
5%
Cloud Security
 $214,251
5%
Products and Services
 $214,251
5%
Presentation
 $214,251
5%
Identity and Access Management
 $212,210
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.

  • Yearly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Hourly
  • Table View
Last Updated on March 01, 2026
$193,763
Average $204,048/year
$213,638
$16,147
Average $17,004/month
$17,803
$3,726
Average $3,924/week
$4,108
$93
Average $98/hour
$103
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $213,638 $17,803 $4,108 $103
Average $204,048 $17,004 $3,924 $98
25th Percentile $193,763 $16,147 $3,726 $93

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Cost of Living In Foothill Ranch, CA

Cost of Living in Foothill Ranch, CA is
42.5% Higher
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