Principal Software Development Engineer Salary in the United States

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

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Principal Software Development Engineer in the United States is $169,315 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $81.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $188,859
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $161,013 to $179,545
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $153,454
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View as table View as graph 25% $161,013 10% $153,454 90% $188,859 75% $179,545 $169,315 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Principal Software Development Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $179,545 $14,962 $3,453 $86
Average $169,315 $14,110 $3,256 $81
25th Percentile $161,013 $13,418 $3,096 $77
Check out Principal Software Development Engineer Job Openings in the United States
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Key Factors That Influence Principal Software Development Engineer Salaries

A Principal Software Development 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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Principal Software Development Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Principal Software Development 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): $165,221
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $165,840
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $166,088
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $167,326
  • Expert (over 8 years): $171,873
Levels Salary
Entry Level Principal Software Development Engineer$165,221
Intermediate Level Principal Software Development Engineer$165,840
Senior Level Principal Software Development Engineer$166,088
Specialist Level Principal Software Development Engineer$167,326
Expert Level Principal Software Development Engineer$171,873
$165,221 0 yr
$165,840 < 2 yrs
$166,088 2-4 yrs
$167,326 5-8 yrs
$171,873 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Principal Software Development 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: $213,557
  • San Francisco: $211,458
  • Oakland: $206,767

What Skills Can Increase a Principal Software Development Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 2.92% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Open Source (Mentioned in 3.61% Job Postings): Open source is a term that originally referred to open source software (OSS). Open source software is code that is designed to be publicly accessible—anyone can see, modify, and distribute the code as they see fit
  • AWS (Mentioned in 2.75% 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.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 2.92%
Open Source 3.61%
AWS 2.75%
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 Software Development Engineer's salary.
  • Relationship Management: Can increase your salary by up to 21%.
  • Accountability: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Innovation: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Relationship Management
 $204,871
21%
Accountability
 $179,474
6%
Innovation
 $179,474
6%
Networking
 $176,088
4%
Scrum
 $176,088
4%
Initiative
 $174,394
3%
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How Education impacts a Principal Software Development Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Principal Software Development Engineers 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 Software Development Engineer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $168,870 and $177,702).

Principal Software Development Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Principal Software Development Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.6%
High School 2.5%
Associates 2.0%
Bachelors 43.2%
Masters 43.9%
Doctorate 7.8%
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Principal Software Development Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Principal Software Development 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 January 01, 2026
$161,013
Average $169,315/year
$179,545
$13,418
Average $14,110/month
$14,962
$3,096
Average $3,256/week
$3,453
$77
Average $81/hour
$86
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $179,545 $14,962 $3,453 $86
Average $169,315 $14,110 $3,256 $81
25th Percentile $161,013 $13,418 $3,096 $77

Salaries of jobs related to Principal Software Development Engineer

Salary Trends for Principal Software Development Engineer

Salaries for a Principal Software Development Engineer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $162,454 in 2023 to around $160,247 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Principal Software Development Engineer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Principal Software Development Engineer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$162,454
2024
$161,464
2025
$160,247
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $162,454
2024 $161,464
2025 $160,247
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Principal Software Development Engineer

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Principal Software Development 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.

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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