What are the main factors that influence a Principal Data Engineer's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change A Principal Data Engineer's salary?

A Principal Data Engineer's salary grows with experience: a Database Engineer III (4-7 years)earns $128,455, a Database Engineer IV (7+ years)earns $147,500, a Principal Data Engineer (7-10 years)earns $172,066, a Database Engineer VI (10-12 years)earns $192,919, a Database Engineering Supervisor (12+ years)earns $111,992,

What are the highest paying states for a Principal Data Engineer?

Principal Data Engineer salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Principal Data Engineer roles are District of Columbia $189,524, California $188,805, Massachusetts $186,289. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Principal Data Engineer roles make?

Salaries for Principal Data Engineer level roles vary by specialization: Principal Data Scientist: $181,008; Senior Principal Data Scientist: $170,285; Principal Data Architect: $163,764; Principal Algorithm Engineer: $158,400; Principal Machine Learning Engineer: $158,360.

Principal Data Engineer Salary in Delaware

How much does a Principal Data Engineer make in Delaware?

As of May 01, 2026, the average salary for a Principal Data Engineer in Delaware is $173,348 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $83.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $206,679
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $161,015 to $190,795
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $149,787

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Principal Data Engineer Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$190,795	$15,900	$3,669	$92
Average	$173,348	$14,446	$3,334	$83
25th Percentile	$161,015	$13,418	$3,096	$77

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

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Key Factors That Influence Principal Data Engineer Salaries

A Principal Data 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 Data Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Principal Data 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): $128,455
Early Career (1-2 years): $147,500
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $172,066
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $192,919
Expert (over 8 years): $111,992

Levels	Salary
Database ... Level Principal Data Engineer	$128,455
Database ... Level Principal Data Engineer	$147,500
Principal... Level Principal Data Engineer	$172,066
Database ... Level Principal Data Engineer	$192,919
Database ... Level Principal Data Engineer	$111,992

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What Am I Worth?

How Do Principal Data Engineer Salaries Vary from State to State?

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 Data Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $189,524.
California: $188,805.
Massachusetts: $186,289.

District of Columbia $189,524 California $188,805 Massachusetts $186,289 Washington $185,604 New Jersey $185,535 Alaska $185,296 Connecticut $182,934 New York $181,975

Hawaii $178,911 Rhode Island $177,473 Maryland $176,498 Minnesota $175,162 Colorado $174,649 Illinois $174,478 Oregon $173,827 Delaware $173,348

New Hampshire $173,047 Virginia $172,372 Pennsylvania $170,404 Nevada $169,411 North Dakota $169,086 Michigan $168,572 Wisconsin $168,384 Vermont $168,007

Texas $166,963 Maine $166,895 Arizona $166,792 Ohio $166,672 Georgia $165,097 Indiana $164,310 Wyoming $164,156 Utah $163,916

Iowa $163,814 Kansas $162,992 Louisiana $162,752 North Carolina $162,667 Missouri $162,632 Florida $161,965 Montana $161,605 Nebraska $161,263

Kentucky $161,075 South Carolina $160,390 Tennessee $159,962 Idaho $159,791 New Mexico $158,541 Oklahoma $158,267 Alabama $157,258 South Dakota $155,563

Arkansas $154,639 West Virginia $154,142 Mississippi $152,653

Top Paying Cities for Principal Data 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:

Lincoln: $172,567
Little Creek: $173,831
Magnolia: $173,581

Lincoln, DE $172,567 Little Creek, DE $173,831 Magnolia, DE $173,581 Milford, DE $173,006 Marydel, DE $173,290 Millsboro, DE $171,843 Millville, DE $172,109 Milton, DE $172,406

Nassau, DE $172,531 Ocean View, DE $172,080 Rehoboth Beach, DE $172,410 Seaford, DE $172,507 Selbyville, DE $171,794 Smyrna, DE $173,950 Viola, DE $173,149 Woodside, DE $173,615

Bear, DE $173,214 Newark, DE $173,149 Claymont, DE $173,504 Delaware City, DE $173,322 Hockessin, DE $173,134 Kirkwood, DE $173,290 Middletown, DE $173,356 Montchanin, DE $173,173

New Castle, DE $173,199 Odessa, DE $173,442 Port Penn, DE $173,558 Rockland, DE $173,190 Saint Georges, DE $173,302 Townsend, DE $173,569 Winterthur, DE $173,211 Lewes, DE $172,473

Wilmington, DE $173,143 Dover, DE $173,831 Dover Afb, DE $172,915 Bethany Beach, DE $171,898 Bethel, DE $172,076 Bridgeville, DE $172,482 Camden Wyoming, DE $173,341 Cheswold, DE $173,774

Clayton, DE $173,779 Dagsboro, DE $171,778 Delmar, DE $171,503 Ellendale, DE $172,023 Felton, DE $172,992 Fenwick Island, DE $171,816 Frankford, DE $171,516 Frederica, DE $173,163

Georgetown, DE $171,713 Greenwood, DE $172,509 Harbeson, DE $171,896 Harrington, DE $172,773 Hartly, DE $173,310 Houston, DE $172,526 Kenton, DE $173,788 Laurel, DE $171,610

Yorklyn, DE $173,185

Principal Data Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Principal Data 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.

Last Updated on May 01, 2026

$161,015

Average $173,348/year

$190,795

$13,418

Average $14,446/month

$15,900

$3,096

Average $3,334/week

$3,669

$77

Average $83/hour

$92

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$190,795	$15,900	$3,669	$92
Average	$173,348	$14,446	$3,334	$83
25th Percentile	$161,015	$13,418	$3,096	$77

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