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

A Principal Database Engineer's salary grows with experience: starting around $165,152 for beginners, reaching about $166,422 at mid-level, and approach $175,578 for experts.

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

Principal Database Engineer salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Principal Database Engineer roles are District of Columbia $187,292, California $186,581, Massachusetts $184,095. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

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

Salaries for Principal Database Engineer level roles vary by specialization: Database Engineer VI: $188,792; Database Engineer V: $168,406; Principal Engineer: $158,343; DevOps Principal Engineer: $151,900; Database Engineer, Specialist: $144,400.

Principal Database Engineer Salary in Delaware

How much does a Principal Database Engineer make in Delaware?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Principal Database Engineer in Delaware is $171,306 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $82.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $203,949
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $158,985 to $188,393
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $147,767

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Principal Database Engineer Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$188,393	$15,699	$3,623	$91
Average	$171,306	$14,276	$3,294	$82
25th Percentile	$158,985	$13,249	$3,057	$76

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

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Key Factors That Influence Principal Database Engineer Salaries

A Principal Database 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 Database Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Principal Database 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): $165,152
Early Career (1-2 years): $166,059
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $166,422
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $168,236
Expert (over 8 years): $175,578

Levels	Salary
Entry Level Principal Database Engineer	$165,152
Intermediate Level Principal Database Engineer	$166,059
Senior Level Principal Database Engineer	$166,422
Specialist Level Principal Database Engineer	$168,236
Expert Level Principal Database Engineer	$175,578

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What Am I Worth?

How Do Principal Database 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 Database Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $187,292.
California: $186,581.
Massachusetts: $184,095.

District of Columbia $187,292 California $186,581 Massachusetts $184,095 Washington $183,418 New Jersey $183,350 Alaska $183,114 Connecticut $180,779 New York $179,832

Hawaii $176,804 Rhode Island $175,383 Maryland $174,419 Minnesota $173,099 Colorado $172,592 Illinois $172,423 Oregon $171,780 Delaware $171,306

New Hampshire $171,009 Virginia $170,342 Pennsylvania $168,397 Nevada $167,416 North Dakota $167,094 Michigan $166,587 Wisconsin $166,401 Vermont $166,029

Texas $164,997 Maine $164,929 Arizona $164,828 Ohio $164,709 Georgia $163,153 Indiana $162,375 Wyoming $162,223 Utah $161,986

Iowa $161,884 Kansas $161,072 Louisiana $160,835 North Carolina $160,751 Missouri $160,717 Florida $160,057 Montana $159,702 Nebraska $159,364

Kentucky $159,178 South Carolina $158,501 Tennessee $158,078 Idaho $157,909 New Mexico $156,674 Oklahoma $156,403 Alabama $155,405 South Dakota $153,731

Arkansas $152,817 West Virginia $152,327 Mississippi $150,855

Top Paying Cities for Principal Database 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: $177,294
Little Creek: $175,654
Magnolia: $176,381

Lincoln, DE $177,294 Little Creek, DE $175,654 Magnolia, DE $176,381 Milford, DE $177,294 Marydel, DE $174,994 Millsboro, DE $177,294 Millville, DE $178,479 Milton, DE $177,294

Nassau, DE $177,294 Ocean View, DE $178,479 Rehoboth Beach, DE $178,479 Seaford, DE $175,434 Selbyville, DE $178,479 Smyrna, DE $174,791 Viola, DE $176,381 Woodside, DE $175,874

Bear, DE $173,505 Newark, DE $173,573 Claymont, DE $173,708 Delaware City, DE $173,573 Hockessin, DE $173,708 Kirkwood, DE $173,573 Middletown, DE $174,436 Montchanin, DE $173,708

New Castle, DE $173,708 Odessa, DE $174,673 Port Penn, DE $173,099 Rockland, DE $173,708 Saint Georges, DE $173,573 Townsend, DE $174,419 Winterthur, DE $173,708 Lewes, DE $177,294

Wilmington, DE $173,708 Dover, DE $175,569 Dover Afb, DE $175,975 Bethany Beach, DE $178,479 Bethel, DE $175,434 Bridgeville, DE $177,294 Camden Wyoming, DE $175,755 Cheswold, DE $175,163

Clayton, DE $174,723 Dagsboro, DE $178,479 Delmar, DE $175,434 Ellendale, DE $177,294 Felton, DE $177,294 Fenwick Island, DE $178,479 Frankford, DE $178,479 Frederica, DE $177,294

Georgetown, DE $177,294 Greenwood, DE $177,294 Harbeson, DE $177,294 Harrington, DE $177,294 Hartly, DE $174,639 Houston, DE $177,294 Kenton, DE $174,723 Laurel, DE $175,434

Yorklyn, DE $173,708

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

Understanding how a Principal Database 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 January 01, 2026

$158,985

Average $171,306/year

$188,393

$13,249

Average $14,276/month

$15,699

$3,057

Average $3,294/week

$3,623

$76

Average $82/hour

$91

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$188,393	$15,699	$3,623	$91
Average	$171,306	$14,276	$3,294	$82
25th Percentile	$158,985	$13,249	$3,057	$76

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