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Principal Engineer I Salary in the United States

How much does a Principal Engineer I make in the United States?

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for a Principal Engineer I in the United States is $165,701 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $80.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $179,989
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $157,171 to $173,180
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $149,405
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Principal Engineer I Salaries

A Principal Engineer I'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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Principal Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Principal Engineer I'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): $113,006
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $143,047
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $165,151
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $198,048
  • Expert (over 8 years): $90,412
Levels Salary
Engineer ... Level Principal Engineer I$113,006
Engineer ... Level Principal Engineer I$143,047
Principal... Level Principal Engineer I$165,151
Engineer ... Level Principal Engineer I$198,048
Engineeri... Level Principal Engineer I$90,412
View as Graph

How Do Principal Engineer I 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 Engineer Is. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $183,464.
  • California: $182,768.
  • Massachusetts: $180,332.

Top Paying Cities for Principal Engineer Is

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: $208,999
  • San Francisco: $206,710
  • Oakland: $202,354

What Skills Can Increase a Principal Engineer I's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 5.06% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • AWS (Mentioned in 2.1% Job Postings): Amazon Web Services, Inc. is a subsidiary of Amazon that provides on-demand cloud computing platforms and APIs to individuals, companies, and governments, on a metered pay-as-you-go basis.
  • AutoCAD (Mentioned in 1.6% Job Postings): AutoCAD is a commercial computer-aided design and drafting software application. Developed and marketed by Autodesk, AutoCAD was first released in December 1982 as a desktop app running on microcomputers with internal graphics controllers.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 5.06%
AWS 2.1%
AutoCAD 1.6%
See More Skills

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 Engineer I's salary.

  • Decision Making: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Insight: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Team Development: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Decision Making $175,643
6%
Insight $173,986
5%
Team Development $172,329
4%
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Principal Engineer I Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Principal Engineer I roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Principal Engineer positions in Transportation or Telecom typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Principal Engineer I as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Principal Engineer I

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$198,841$96.020%
Biotechnology$198,841$96.020%
Business Services$198,841$96.020%
Chemicals$198,841$96.020%
Construction$198,841$96.020%

How Education impacts a Principal Engineer I's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Principal Engineer Is enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Principal Engineer I with a Bachelor's Degree is between $158,563 and $166,852).

Principal Engineer I Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Principal Engineer I
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.3%
High School 2.8%
Associates 2.3%
Bachelors 33.6%
Masters 43.0%
Doctorate 17.9%
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Principal Engineer I Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Principal Engineer I'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 October 01, 2026
$157,171
Average $165,701/year
$173,180
$13,098
Average $13,808/month
$14,432
$3,023
Average $3,187/week
$3,330
$76
Average $80/hour
$83
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $173,180 $14,432 $3,330 $83
Average $165,701 $13,808 $3,187 $80
25th Percentile $157,171 $13,098 $3,023 $76

Most common benefits for Principal Engineer I

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Principal Engineer I

Here are companies hiring for Principal Engineer I and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Principal Engineer I

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Principal Engineer I?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Principal Engineer I roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

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.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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