Principal Software Development Engineer Salary in Virginia

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

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Principal Software Development Engineer in Virginia is $170,500 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): $190,181
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $162,140 to $180,802
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $154,529
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2025 Compensation Trend
Smart Recruiting
Recruit with AI
Salary Salary + Bonus Benefits
Paid Annually Paid Monthly Paid Semimonthly Paid Biweekly Paid Weekly Paid Hourly
View as table View as graph 25% $162,140 10% $154,529 90% $190,181 75% $180,802 $170,500 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 $180,802 $15,067 $3,477 $87
Average $170,500 $14,208 $3,279 $82
25th Percentile $162,140 $13,512 $3,118 $78
Check out Principal Software Development Engineer Job Openings in Virginia
Senior Data Engineer - (Software Engineer Principal I) with Security Clearance

Prism, Inc. - Dulles, VA

Principal Cyber Software Engineer with Security Clearance

RogueThink Inc - Chantilly, VA

Senior Embedded Software Engineer II/Principal with Security Clearance

ANISTAR Technologies - Chantilly, VA

Full-Stack Software Development Engineer with Security Clearance

Talos Mission Solutions - Arlington, VA

Search More Principal Software Development Engineer Jobs in Virginia
Select State
Select City in VA
Choose Similar Job
Choose Category
Cost of Living
Average Salary for United States
See it in Action

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): $166,378
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $167,001
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $167,250
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $168,497
  • Expert (over 8 years): $173,076
Levels Salary
Entry Level Principal Software Development Engineer$166,378
Intermediate Level Principal Software Development Engineer$167,001
Senior Level Principal Software Development Engineer$167,250
Specialist Level Principal Software Development Engineer$168,497
Expert Level Principal Software Development Engineer$173,076
$166,378 0 yr
$167,001 < 2 yrs
$167,250 2-4 yrs
$168,497 5-8 yrs
$173,076 > 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph

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:

  • Ivanhoe: $155,600
  • Lambsburg: $156,379
  • Laurel Fork: $156,379

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.

  • Yearly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Hourly
  • Table View
Last Updated on January 01, 2026
$162,140
Average $170,500/year
$180,802
$13,512
Average $14,208/month
$15,067
$3,118
Average $3,279/week
$3,477
$78
Average $82/hour
$87
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $180,802 $15,067 $3,477 $87
Average $170,500 $14,208 $3,279 $82
25th Percentile $162,140 $13,512 $3,118 $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.

United States
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 Virginia

Cost of Living in Virginia is
0.7% 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 CompAnalyst