What are the main factors that influence a Principle Test 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 Principle Test Engineer's salary?

A Principle Test Engineer's salary grows with experience: a Test Engineer III (4-7 years)earns $114,012, a Test Engineer IV (7+ years)earns $137,599, a Principle Test Engineer (7-10 years)earns $150,153, a Test Engineering Supervisor (10+ years)earns $107,937, a Test Engineering Manager I (10+ years)earns $128,760,

What are the highest paying states for a Principle Test Engineer?

Principle Test Engineer salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Principle Test Engineer roles are District of Columbia $165,310, California $164,683, Massachusetts $162,489. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Principle Test Engineer roles make?

Salaries for Principle Test Engineer level roles vary by specialization: Principle Systems Engineer: $165,860; Principle Engineer: $150,488; Test Engineer V: $147,672; Test Engineer IV: $135,326; Automation Test Engineer: $121,880.

How do different companies affect a Principle Test Engineer's salary?

Company size, industry, and compensation structure create significant salary variations for Principle Test Engineer roles. Large, established industry leaders like C R Bard Inc ($128,509) and Henry Schein Canada ($124,697) offer base salaries 35-40% above the national average. In contrast, smaller firms or startups may offer closer to $82,041.

Principle Test Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does a Principle Test Engineer make in the United States?

As of June 01, 2026, the average salary for a Principle Test Engineer in the United States is $149,305 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $72.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $165,343
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $137,090 to $157,700
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $125,969

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Principle Test Engineer Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$157,700	$13,142	$3,033	$76
Average	$149,305	$12,442	$2,871	$72
25th Percentile	$137,090	$11,424	$2,636	$66

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

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Key Factors That Influence Principle Test Engineer Salaries

A Principle Test 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 Principle Test Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Principle Test 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): $114,012
Early Career (1-2 years): $137,599
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $150,153
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $107,937
Expert (over 8 years): $128,760

Levels	Salary
Test Engi... Level Principle Test Engineer	$114,012
Test Engi... Level Principle Test Engineer	$137,599
Principle... Level Principle Test Engineer	$150,153
Test Engi... Level Principle Test Engineer	$107,937
Test Engi... Level Principle Test Engineer	$128,760

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What Am I Worth?

How Do Principle Test 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 Principle Test Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $165,310.
California: $164,683.
Massachusetts: $162,489.

District of Columbia $165,310

California $164,683

Massachusetts $162,489

Washington $161,891

New Jersey $161,832

Alaska $161,623

Connecticut $159,562

New York $158,726

Hawaii $156,054

Rhode Island $154,799

Maryland $153,948

Minnesota $152,784

Colorado $152,336

Illinois $152,187

Oregon $151,619

Delaware $151,201

New Hampshire $150,938

Virginia $150,350

Pennsylvania $148,633

Nevada $147,767

North Dakota $147,483

Michigan $147,036

Wisconsin $146,871

Vermont $146,543

Texas $145,632

Maine $145,572

Arizona $145,483

Ohio $145,378

Georgia $144,005

Indiana $143,318

Wyoming $143,183

Utah $142,974

Iowa $142,885

Kansas $142,168

Louisiana $141,959

North Carolina $141,885

Missouri $141,855

Florida $141,272

Montana $140,959

Nebraska $140,660

Kentucky $140,496

South Carolina $139,899

Tennessee $139,526

Idaho $139,376

New Mexico $138,286

Oklahoma $138,047

Alabama $137,167

South Dakota $135,688

Arkansas $134,882

West Virginia $134,449

Mississippi $133,150

Top Paying Cities for Principle Test 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: $188,318
San Francisco: $186,256
Oakland: $182,331

San Jose, CA $188,318

San Francisco, CA $186,256

Oakland, CA $182,331

New York, NY $171,908

Paramus, NJ $169,818

Queens Village, NY $169,811

Passaic, NJ $169,669

Bergenfield, NJ $169,655

Stamford, CT $169,327

Huntington, NY $169,266

Newark, NJ $168,162

Bridgeport, CT $167,847

Vallejo, CA $167,550

New Brunswick, NJ $167,490

Petaluma, CA $167,401

Middlesex, NJ $167,117

Somerset, NJ $167,013

Santa Cruz, CA $166,818

Boston, MA $165,908

Monterey, CA $165,384

Seattle, WA $165,042

Santa Rosa, CA $165,012

Los Angeles, CA $164,967

Juneau, AK $164,579

Washington, DC $164,415

Orange, CA $163,883

Santa Ana, CA $163,489

Long Beach, CA $163,340

Anaheim, CA $163,310

Anchorage, AK $163,235

Santa Maria, CA $162,787

Everett, WA $162,757

Danbury, CT $162,232

Bremerton, WA $162,026

Tacoma, WA $161,488

New Suffolk, NY $161,485

Sacramento, CA $161,443

Santa Barbara, CA $161,279

Trenton, NJ $161,115

San Diego, CA $161,115

Brockton, MA $160,951

Fairbanks, AK $160,585

Lompoc, CA $160,204

Lowell, MA $160,083

Ventura, CA $160,055

Nashua, NH $160,025

Stockton, CA $160,010

Modesto, CA $158,920

Poughkeepsie, NY $158,592

Olympia, WA $158,308

Kennewick, WA $158,308

New Haven, CT $158,248

Lawrence, MA $157,711

Hartford, CT $157,562

Riverside, CA $157,532

New Bedford, MA $157,382

Richland, WA $157,382

Bakersfield, CA $157,173

San Bernardino, CA $157,114

New Britain, CT $157,099

Atlantic City, NJ $157,099

New London, CT $157,039

Norwich, CT $156,994

Portsmouth, NH $156,964

Boulder, CO $156,648

Portland, OR $156,442

Worcester, MA $156,427

Minneapolis, MN $155,964

Philadelphia, PA $155,755

Honolulu, HI $155,262

Saint Paul, MN $155,191

Vineland, NJ $155,158

Providence, RI $154,725

Chicago, IL $154,292

Bellingham, WA $154,113

Springfield, MA $153,993

Baltimore, MD $153,948

Chico, CA $153,575

Pittsfield, MA $153,172

Manchester, NH $152,888

Spokane, WA $152,231

Denver, CO $152,216

Albany, NY $151,515

Troy, NY $151,455

Nassau, NY $151,295

Schenectady, NY $151,141

Wilmington, DE $151,022

Burlington, VT $150,813

Salem, OR $150,753

Portland, ME $150,290

Yakima, WA $150,141

Rochester, MN $149,678

Reno, NV $149,604

Fresno, CA $149,604

Milwaukee, WI $149,469

Detroit, MI $149,320

Ann Arbor, MI $149,295

Allentown, PA $149,275

Colorado Springs, CO $149,021

Syracuse, NY $148,947

Carson City, NV $148,947

Houston, TX $148,738

Eugene, OR $148,663

Gary, IN $148,484

Springfield, OR $148,364

Bismarck, ND $148,335

Galveston, TX $148,230

Medford, OR $148,006

Fort Collins, CO $147,946

Concord, NH $147,872

Austin, TX $147,827

Mesa, AZ $147,513

Reading, PA $147,498

Phoenix, AZ $147,483

Dallas, TX $147,439

Saint Cloud, MN $147,295

Madison, WI $147,095

Utica, NY $146,692

Rochester, NY $146,453

Des Moines, IA $146,438

Raleigh, NC $146,423

Atlanta, GA $146,199

Battle Creek, MI $146,155

Salt Lake City, UT $146,110

Lancaster, PA $145,886

Harrisburg, PA $145,677

Kansas City, MO $145,528

Champaign, IL $145,498

Kansas City, KS $145,498

Fort Worth, TX $145,483

Columbus, OH $145,457

Boca Raton, FL $145,423

Pittsburgh, PA $145,363

Richmond, VA $145,304

Indianapolis, IN $145,274

Cleveland, OH $145,259

Las Vegas, NV $145,080

Cincinnati, OH $145,080

Petersburg, VA $144,856

Huntsville, AL $144,632

Lansing, MI $144,532

Lebanon, PA $144,512

Pueblo, CO $144,497

Appleton, WI $144,453

Buffalo, NY $144,393

Dayton, OH $144,348

Racine, WI $144,318

Charlotte, NC $144,303

Saint Louis, MO $144,258

York, PA $144,169

Elkhart, IN $144,169

Gastonia, NC $144,141

Billings, MT $144,105

Beaumont, TX $144,064

Lorain, OH $144,035

Benton Harbor, MI $144,005

Toledo, OH $143,975

Binghamton, NY $143,900

Rock Hill, SC $143,885

Rockford, IL $143,811

Springfield, IL $143,751

Elyria, OH $143,736

Fargo, ND $143,736

Flagstaff, AZ $143,631

Fort Lauderdale, FL $143,542

Duluth, MN $143,452

Miami, FL $143,452

Cheyenne, WY $143,348

Grand Forks, ND $143,348

Bangor, ME $143,019

Cedar Rapids, IA $142,855

Durham, NC $142,792

Louisville, KY $142,780

Grand Rapids, MI $142,751

Hialeah, FL $142,736

Casper, WY $142,527

Scranton, PA $142,347

New Orleans, LA $142,303

Virginia Beach, VA $142,288

Akron, OH $142,213

Peoria, IL $142,019

Sarasota, FL $141,989

Nashville, TN $141,885

Omaha, NE $141,885

Green Bay, WI $141,885

Baton Rouge, LA $141,810

Charleston, SC $141,780

Jamestown, NY $141,705

Davenport, IA $141,705

Tucson, AZ $141,631

Saint Petersburg, FL $141,541

Tampa, FL $141,511

Evansville, IN $141,422

Port Arthur, TX $141,422

Bradenton, FL $141,362

Santa Fe, NM $141,093

Orlando, FL $140,824

Clearwater, FL $140,780

Canton, OH $140,466

La Crosse, WI $140,466

Albuquerque, NM $140,377

Newport News, VA $140,362

High Point, NC $140,317

Ogden, UT $140,257

Corpus Christi, TX $140,138

Norfolk, VA $140,048

Laramie, WY $140,048

Rock Island, IL $139,959

Saginaw, MI $139,929

Jacksonville, FL $139,914

Salisbury, NC $139,884

Boise, ID $139,854

Moline, IL $139,779

Fort Myers, FL $139,735

Memphis, TN $139,705

Tulsa, OK $139,630

Waterloo, IA $139,540

Spartanburg, SC $139,391

Lincoln, NE $139,316

Fort Wayne, IN $139,287

Provo, UT $139,272

Cedar Falls, IA $139,093

San Antonio, TX $139,033

Greensboro, NC $138,973

South Bend, IN $138,958

Savannah, GA $138,794

Muskegon, MI $138,734

Birmingham, AL $138,719

Winston Salem, NC $138,646

Lake Charles, LA $138,286

Anderson, IN $138,256

Lexington, KY $138,212

Augusta, GA $138,167

Greenville, SC $138,167

Lima, OH $138,047

Wichita, KS $138,032

Tuscaloosa, AL $138,032

Columbia, SC $137,898

Springfield, OH $137,868

Asheville, NC $137,629

Bloomington, IN $137,525

Knoxville, TN $136,987

Shreveport, LA $136,972

Wilmington, NC $136,778

Roanoke, VA $136,778

Topeka, KS $136,510

Frankfort, KY $136,493

Oklahoma City, OK $136,390

Chillicothe, OH $136,330

Longview, TX $136,315

Melbourne, FL $136,301

Sioux Falls, SD $136,062

Mobile, AL $136,047

Terre Haute, IN $135,987

Altoona, PA $135,897

Amarillo, TX $135,793

Killeen, TX $135,748

Fayetteville, AR $135,629

Chattanooga, TN $135,584

Sioux City, IA $135,449

Idaho Falls, ID $135,420

Lynchburg, VA $135,300

Gainesville, FL $135,106

Portsmouth, OH $135,031

Little Rock, AR $135,002

Lafayette, LA $134,942

Youngstown, OH $134,942

Daytona Beach, FL $134,852

Clarksville, TN $134,837

Pensacola, FL $134,822

Temple, TX $134,812

Hopkinsville, KY $134,375

Erie, PA $134,345

Florence, SC $134,285

Charleston, WV $134,046

Great Falls, MT $133,971

Macon, GA $133,762

Tallahassee, FL $133,747

Fayetteville, NC $133,718

Waco, TX $133,688

Helena, MT $133,583

Pine Bluff, AR $133,526

Vincennes, IN $133,344

Lubbock, TX $133,285

Alamogordo, NM $133,195

Twin Falls, ID $133,061

Rapid City, SD $133,016

Jackson, MS $132,747

Huntington, WV $132,737

Greenville, MS $132,732

Parkersburg, WV $132,580

Montgomery, AL $132,553

Wichita Falls, TX $132,404

Springfield, MO $132,404

Biloxi, MS $132,329

Monroe, LA $132,180

Johnstown, PA $132,075

Sumter, SC $132,015

Columbus, GA $132,001

Pascagoula, MS $131,717

Abilene, TX $131,717

Kingsport, TN $131,329

Albany, GA $131,329

Gulfport, MS $131,284

Alexandria, LA $130,791

Fort Smith, AR $130,418

El Paso, TX $130,015

Las Cruces, NM $129,343

Harlingen, TX $128,964

Pocatello, ID $128,940

Florence, AL $128,746

Brownsville, TX $128,716

Mcallen, TX $128,402

Dothan, AL $128,193

Columbus, MS $127,306

Altus, OK $126,611

Lawton, OK $126,327

Pierre, SD $125,789

What Skills Can Increase a Principle Test Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

Analysis (Mentioned in 9.76% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
Computer Science (Mentioned in 2.67% Job Postings): Computer science is the study of computation, automation, and information. Computer science spans theoretical disciplines (such as algorithms, theory of computation, information theory, and automation) to practical disciplines.
Software Development (Mentioned in 1.79% Job Postings): Software development is the process of conceiving, specifying, designing, programming, documenting, testing, and bug fixing involved in creating and maintaining applications, frameworks, or other software components. Software development is a process of writing and maintaining the source code, but in a broader sense, it includes all that is involved between the conception of the desired software through to the final manifestation of the software, sometimes in a planned and structured process. Therefore, software development may include research, new development, prototyping, modification, reuse, re-engineering, maintenance, or any other activities that result in software products. Software can be developed for a variety of purposes, the three most common being to meet specific needs of a specific client/business (the case with custom software), to meet a perceived need of some set of potential users (the case with commercial and open source software), or for personal use (e.g. a scientist may write software to automate a mundane task). Embedded software development, that is, the development of embedded software, such as used for controlling consumer products, requires the development process to be integrated with the development of the controlled physical product. System software underlies applications and the programming process itself, and is often developed separately.

See More Skills

Skills	Demand Percentage
Analysis	9.76%
Computer Science	2.67%
Software Development	1.79%

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 Principle Test Engineer's salary.

Insight: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
Decision Making: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Data Acquisition: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.

Skill	Salary	Salary % Increase
Insight	$164,236	10%
Decision Making	$158,263	6%
Data Acquisition	$158,263	6%
Commitment	$156,770	5%
Continuous Learning	$156,770	5%
Azure	$156,770	5%

Get Latest Data

How Education impacts a Principle Test Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Principle Test Engineers enter the field with a Associate'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 Principle Test Engineer with a Associate's Degree is between $145,755 and $151,669).

Principle Test Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Principle Test Engineer

No Diploma 2.3%

High School 2.3%

Associates 7.6%

Bachelors 52.3%

Masters 32.6%

Doctorate 5.3%

view as table

Degree Level	% of user with this level of education
No Diploma	2.3%
High School	2.3%
Associates	7.6%
Bachelors	52.3%
Masters	32.6%
Doctorate	5.3%

view as graph

Principle Test Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Principle Test 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 June 01, 2026

$137,090

Average $149,305/year

$157,700

$11,424

Average $12,442/month

$13,142

$2,636

Average $2,871/week

$3,033

$66

Average $72/hour

$76

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$157,700	$13,142	$3,033	$76
Average	$149,305	$12,442	$2,871	$72
25th Percentile	$137,090	$11,424	$2,636	$66

Salaries of jobs related to Principle Test Engineer

Salary Trends for Principle Test Engineer

Salaries for a Principle Test Engineer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $149,073 in 2023 to around $141,755 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Principle Test Engineer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Principle Test Engineer Over Time

2022

$???

2023

$149,073

2024

$145,259

2025

$141,755

2026

$???

2027

$???

Year	Average Annual Salary
2022	View More
2023	$149,073
2024	$145,259
2025	$141,755
2026	View More
2027	View More

Most common benefits for Principle Test 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.)

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