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

A Principal Software Development Engineer's salary grows with experience: starting around $167,320 for beginners, reaching about $168,197 at mid-level, and approach $174,056 for experts.

What are the highest paying states for a Principal Software Development Engineer?

Principal Software Development Engineer salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Principal Software Development Engineer roles are District of Columbia $187,466, California $186,754, Massachusetts $184,266. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Principal Software Development Engineer roles make?

Salaries for Principal Software Development Engineer level roles vary by specialization: Principal Software Engineer, Front End: $172,685; Senior Principal Software Engineer: $172,327; Principal Embedded Software Engineer: $159,882; Senior Software Development Engineer: $153,198; Embedded Software Development Engineer: $132,717.

Principal Software Development Engineer Salary in Delaware

How much does a Principal Software Development Engineer make in Delaware?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Principal Software Development Engineer in Delaware is $171,465 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $82.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $191,257
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $163,058 to $181,825
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $155,403

Compensation Planning

Develop a Job Description

Pay Equity

2025 Compensation Trend

Smart Recruiting

AI-Powered HR

Salary Salary + Bonus Benefits

View as table

Principal Software Development Engineer Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$181,825	$15,152	$3,497	$87
Average	$171,465	$14,289	$3,297	$82
25th Percentile	$163,058	$13,588	$3,136	$78

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

Change Search Criteria

Check out Principal Software Development Engineer Job Openings in Delaware

Principal Software Engineer, OCI

Ll Oefentherapie - Dover, DE

Sr Principal AI Software Engineer - ML & AI Innovation

Ll Oefentherapie - Dover, DE

Principal Software Engineer, OCI Object Storage

Ll Oefentherapie - Dover, DE

POSITION TITLE: Software Development Engineer in Test

Ecclesiastes Inc - Newark, DE

Search More Principal Software Development Engineer Jobs in Delaware

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 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): $167,320
Early Career (1-2 years): $167,946
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $168,197
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $169,451
Expert (over 8 years): $174,056

Levels	Salary
Entry Level Principal Software Development Engineer	$167,320
Intermediate Level Principal Software Development Engineer	$167,946
Senior Level Principal Software Development Engineer	$168,197
Specialist Level Principal Software Development Engineer	$169,451
Expert Level Principal Software Development Engineer	$174,056

View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

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

District of Columbia: $187,466.
California: $186,754.
Massachusetts: $184,266.

District of Columbia $187,466 California $186,754 Massachusetts $184,266 Washington $183,588 New Jersey $183,521 Alaska $183,283 Connecticut $180,947 New York $179,999

Hawaii $176,968 Rhode Island $175,546 Maryland $174,581 Minnesota $173,260 Colorado $172,752 Illinois $172,583 Oregon $171,939 Delaware $171,465

New Hampshire $171,167 Virginia $170,500 Pennsylvania $168,553 Nevada $167,571 North Dakota $167,249 Michigan $166,741 Wisconsin $166,555 Vermont $166,183

Texas $165,150 Maine $165,082 Arizona $164,981 Ohio $164,862 Georgia $163,304 Indiana $162,525 Wyoming $162,373 Utah $162,136

Iowa $162,034 Kansas $161,222 Louisiana $160,985 North Carolina $160,900 Missouri $160,866 Florida $160,206 Montana $159,850 Nebraska $159,512

Kentucky $159,325 South Carolina $158,648 Tennessee $158,225 Idaho $158,056 New Mexico $156,820 Oklahoma $156,549 Alabama $155,550 South Dakota $153,873

Arkansas $152,959 West Virginia $152,468 Mississippi $150,995

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:

Lincoln: $177,459
Little Creek: $175,817
Magnolia: $176,545

Lincoln, DE $177,459 Little Creek, DE $175,817 Magnolia, DE $176,545 Milford, DE $177,459 Marydel, DE $175,156 Millsboro, DE $177,459 Millville, DE $178,644 Milton, DE $177,459

Nassau, DE $177,459 Ocean View, DE $178,644 Rehoboth Beach, DE $178,644 Seaford, DE $175,597 Selbyville, DE $178,644 Smyrna, DE $174,953 Viola, DE $176,545 Woodside, DE $176,037

Bear, DE $173,666 Newark, DE $173,734 Claymont, DE $173,870 Delaware City, DE $173,734 Hockessin, DE $173,870 Kirkwood, DE $173,734 Middletown, DE $174,598 Montchanin, DE $173,870

New Castle, DE $173,870 Odessa, DE $174,835 Port Penn, DE $173,260 Rockland, DE $173,870 Saint Georges, DE $173,734 Townsend, DE $174,581 Winterthur, DE $173,870 Lewes, DE $177,459

Wilmington, DE $173,870 Dover, DE $175,732 Dover Afb, DE $176,138 Bethany Beach, DE $178,644 Bethel, DE $175,597 Bridgeville, DE $177,459 Camden Wyoming, DE $175,918 Cheswold, DE $175,326

Clayton, DE $174,885 Dagsboro, DE $178,644 Delmar, DE $175,597 Ellendale, DE $177,459 Felton, DE $177,459 Fenwick Island, DE $178,644 Frankford, DE $178,644 Frederica, DE $177,459

Georgetown, DE $177,459 Greenwood, DE $177,459 Harbeson, DE $177,459 Harrington, DE $177,459 Hartly, DE $174,801 Houston, DE $177,459 Kenton, DE $174,885 Laurel, DE $175,597

Yorklyn, DE $173,870

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.

Last Updated on January 01, 2026

$163,058

Average $171,465/year

$181,825

$13,588

Average $14,289/month

$15,152

$3,136

Average $3,297/week

$3,497

$78

Average $82/hour

$87

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$181,825	$15,152	$3,497	$87
Average	$171,465	$14,289	$3,297	$82
25th Percentile	$163,058	$13,588	$3,136	$78

Salaries of jobs related to Principal Software Development Engineer

Find Your Next Principal Software Development Engineer Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Principal Software Development Engineer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Price My Industry Jobs

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Cost of Living In Delaware

Cost of Living in Delaware is

1.3% Higher

than the National Average

Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.

Explore Cost of Living Calculator

Empower Your Team

Salary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.

Find Salary.com Comp Consulting

See Salary Trends in 2025

Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.

Price Your Company Jobs and Make Pay Fair

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
Job and employee pricing reports
Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.

Learn about