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Principal Software Quality Engineer Salary in the United States

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

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Principal Software Quality Engineer in the United States is $74,236 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $36.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $83,725
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $68,472 to $79,203
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $63,225
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View as table View as graph 25% $68,472 10% $63,225 90% $83,725 75% $79,203 $74,236 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Principal Software Quality Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $79,203 $6,600 $1,523 $38
Average $74,236 $6,186 $1,428 $36
25th Percentile $68,472 $5,706 $1,317 $33
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Key Factors That Influence Principal Software Quality Engineer Salaries

A Principal Software Quality 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 Quality Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Principal Software Quality 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): $74,637
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $95,782
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $116,120
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $134,100
  • Expert (over 8 years): $156,857
Levels Salary
Principal... Level Principal Software Quality Engineer$74,637
Software ... Level Principal Software Quality Engineer$95,782
Software ... Level Principal Software Quality Engineer$116,120
Software ... Level Principal Software Quality Engineer$134,100
Software ... Level Principal Software Quality Engineer$156,857
$74,637 0 yr
$95,782 < 2 yrs
$116,120 2-4 yrs
$134,100 5-8 yrs
$156,857 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

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

  • District of Columbia: $82,195.
  • California: $81,883.
  • Massachusetts: $80,791.

Top Paying Cities for Principal Software Quality 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: $93,634
  • San Francisco: $92,609
  • Oakland: $90,657

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

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 4.71% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Test Automation (Mentioned in 3.05% Job Postings): Leveraging automation tools to maintain test data, execute tests, and analyze test results to improve software quality.
  • Automated Testing (Mentioned in 1.76% Job Postings): Test automation is the use of software to control the execution of tests and the comparison of predicted to actual outcomes.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 4.71%
Test Automation 3.05%
Automated Testing 1.76%
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 Quality Engineer's salary.
  • Java: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Innovation: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
  • Software Development: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Java
 $77,206
4%
Innovation
 $76,463
3%
Software Development
 $76,463
3%
Computer Science
 $76,463
3%
Programming
 $76,463
3%
Test Automation
 $75,721
2%
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Principal Software Quality Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Principal Software Quality Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 110% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Pharmaceuticals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, Principal Software Quality Engineer positions in Transportation or Telecom typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Principal Software Quality Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Principal Software Quality Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$111,355$54.050%
Pharmaceuticals$92,796$45.025%
Financial Services$89,084$43.020%
Energy & Utilities$85,372$41.015%
Biotechnology$81,660$39.010%

How Education impacts a Principal Software Quality Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Principal Software Quality Engineers enter the field with a No Diploma 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 Quality Engineer with a No Diploma is between $62,150 and $66,214).

Principal Software Quality Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Principal Software Quality Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 3.0%
High School 5.2%
Associates 11.2%
Bachelors 56.7%
Masters 23.9%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Principal Software Quality Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Principal Software Quality 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 August 01, 2026
$68,472
Average $74,236/year
$79,203
$5,706
Average $6,186/month
$6,600
$1,317
Average $1,428/week
$1,523
$33
Average $36/hour
$38
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $79,203 $6,600 $1,523 $38
Average $74,236 $6,186 $1,428 $36
25th Percentile $68,472 $5,706 $1,317 $33

Salaries of jobs related to Principal Software Quality Engineer

Salary Trends for Principal Software Quality Engineer

Salaries for a Principal Software Quality Engineer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $71,891 in 2023 to around $70,956 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Principal Software Quality Engineer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Principal Software Quality Engineer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$71,891
2024
$71,556
2025
$70,956
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $71,891
2024 $71,556
2025 $70,956
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Principal Software Quality Engineer

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

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

Find Your Next Principal Software Quality Engineer Job

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

United States

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    Columbus, OH

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    Columbus, OH

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    AMN Healthcare, Inc. | Columbus, OH

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    Columbus, OH

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    Columbus, OH

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FAQ about Principal Software Quality Engineer

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

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Principal Software Quality Engineer roles, with salaries approximately 50% 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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