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 $113,989, a Test Engineer IV (7+ years)earns $137,568, a Principle Test Engineer (7-10 years)earns $150,167, a Test Engineering Supervisor (10+ years)earns $107,934, a Test Engineering Manager I (10+ years)earns $128,754,

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 $165,327, California $164,700, Massachusetts $162,505. 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: $165,859; Principle Engineer: $150,502; Test Engineer V: $147,686; Test Engineer IV: $135,295; Automation Test Engineer: $121,856.

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 April 01, 2026, the average salary for a Principle Test Engineer in the United States is $149,320 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): $165,309
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $137,125 to $157,689
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $126,022

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Principle Test Engineer Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$157,689	$13,141	$3,032	$76
Average	$149,320	$12,443	$2,872	$72
25th Percentile	$137,125	$11,427	$2,637	$66

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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): $113,989
Early Career (1-2 years): $137,568
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $150,167
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $107,934
Expert (over 8 years): $128,754

Levels	Salary
Test Engi... Level Principle Test Engineer	$113,989
Test Engi... Level Principle Test Engineer	$137,568
Principle... Level Principle Test Engineer	$150,167
Test Engi... Level Principle Test Engineer	$107,934
Test Engi... Level Principle Test Engineer	$128,754

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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: $165,327.
California: $164,700.
Massachusetts: $162,505.

District of Columbia $165,327

California $164,700

Massachusetts $162,505

Washington $161,908

New Jersey $161,848

Alaska $161,639

Connecticut $159,578

New York $158,742

Hawaii $156,069

Rhode Island $154,815

Maryland $153,964

Minnesota $152,799

Colorado $152,351

Illinois $152,202

Oregon $151,634

Delaware $151,216

New Hampshire $150,954

Virginia $150,365

Pennsylvania $148,648

Nevada $147,782

North Dakota $147,498

Michigan $147,050

Wisconsin $146,886

Vermont $146,558

Texas $145,647

Maine $145,587

Arizona $145,497

Ohio $145,393

Georgia $144,019

Indiana $143,332

Wyoming $143,198

Utah $142,989

Iowa $142,899

Kansas $142,183

Louisiana $141,973

North Carolina $141,899

Missouri $141,869

Florida $141,287

Montana $140,973

Nebraska $140,674

Kentucky $140,510

South Carolina $139,913

Tennessee $139,540

Idaho $139,390

New Mexico $138,300

Oklahoma $138,061

Alabama $137,180

South Dakota $135,702

Arkansas $134,896

West Virginia $134,463

Mississippi $133,164

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: $188,337
San Francisco: $186,486
Oakland: $182,350

San Jose, CA $188,337

San Francisco, CA $186,486

Oakland, CA $182,350

New York, NY $173,047

Queens Village, NY $171,927

Paramus, NJ $170,732

Passaic, NJ $170,583

Bergenfield, NJ $170,434

Stamford, CT $170,210

Huntington, NY $170,061

Newark, NJ $169,090

Bridgeport, CT $168,791

New Brunswick, NJ $168,299

Vallejo, CA $167,985

Middlesex, NJ $167,895

Somerset, NJ $167,761

Petaluma, CA $167,418

Santa Cruz, CA $166,835

Boston, MA $166,537

Monterey, CA $165,790

Fairbanks, AK $165,685

Los Angeles, CA $165,402

Washington, DC $165,327

Seattle, WA $165,058

Santa Rosa, CA $165,028

Juneau, AK $164,595

Orange, CA $164,103

Anchorage, AK $163,834

Anaheim, CA $163,729

Santa Ana, CA $163,505

Nassau, NY $163,416

Long Beach, CA $163,356

Danbury, CT $163,311

Santa Maria, CA $162,804

Everett, WA $162,774

Bremerton, WA $162,042

Trenton, NJ $161,758

Sacramento, CA $161,699

San Diego, CA $161,624

Brockton, MA $161,564

Tacoma, WA $161,505

Santa Barbara, CA $161,295

Lowell, MA $160,698

New Suffolk, NY $160,638

Nashua, NH $160,459

Lompoc, CA $160,220

Ventura, CA $160,071

Stockton, CA $160,026

New Haven, CT $159,728

Atlantic City, NJ $159,339

Hartford, CT $159,011

Modesto, CA $158,936

Poughkeepsie, NY $158,608

New Britain, CT $158,533

Olympia, WA $158,324

Kennewick, WA $158,324

New London, CT $158,294

Norwich, CT $158,249

Lawrence, MA $158,175

Bakersfield, CA $157,757

Riverside, CA $157,548

New Bedford, MA $157,548

Richland, WA $157,398

Portsmouth, NH $157,279

Vineland, NJ $157,249

San Bernardino, CA $157,129

Boulder, CO $156,711

Worcester, MA $156,592

Portland, OR $156,457

Saint Paul, MN $156,278

Minneapolis, MN $156,278

Philadelphia, PA $156,069

Honolulu, HI $155,278

Springfield, MA $154,755

Providence, RI $154,740

Chicago, IL $154,307

Bellingham, WA $154,128

Baltimore, MD $153,964

Chico, CA $153,591

Wilmington, DE $153,337

Pittsfield, MA $153,187

Manchester, NH $152,904

Spokane, WA $152,247

Denver, CO $152,232

Albany, NY $151,530

Troy, NY $151,470

Schenectady, NY $151,157

Burlington, VT $150,828

Portland, ME $150,306

Salem, OR $150,186

Yakima, WA $150,156

Ann Arbor, MI $150,111

Rochester, MN $149,693

Fresno, CA $149,619

Reno, NV $149,619

Milwaukee, WI $149,484

Detroit, MI $149,335

Allentown, PA $149,290

Carson City, NV $149,275

Houston, TX $149,051

Colorado Springs, CO $149,036

Syracuse, NY $148,962

Eugene, OR $148,678

Bismarck, ND $148,499

Gary, IN $148,499

Galveston, TX $148,499

Springfield, OR $148,379

Medford, OR $148,021

Fort Collins, CO $147,961

Austin, TX $147,842

Mesa, AZ $147,528

Phoenix, AZ $147,498

Dallas, TX $147,454

Reading, PA $147,364

Saint Cloud, MN $147,304

Concord, NH $147,170

Madison, WI $147,110

Utica, NY $146,707

Raleigh, NC $146,587

Las Vegas, NV $146,573

Rochester, NY $146,468

Des Moines, IA $146,453

Atlanta, GA $146,214

Battle Creek, MI $146,169

Salt Lake City, UT $146,125

Lancaster, PA $145,901

Champaign, IL $145,871

Harrisburg, PA $145,692

Durham, NC $145,557

Kansas City, MO $145,542

Kansas City, KS $145,512

Fort Worth, TX $145,497

Boca Raton, FL $145,438

Cleveland, OH $145,423

Columbus, OH $145,393

Pittsburgh, PA $145,378

Richmond, VA $145,318

Indianapolis, IN $145,288

Cincinnati, OH $145,094

Petersburg, VA $144,870

Billings, MT $144,542

Lansing, MI $144,542

Huntsville, AL $144,542

Lebanon, PA $144,527

Dayton, OH $144,512

Pueblo, CO $144,512

Appleton, WI $144,467

Buffalo, NY $144,407

Racine, WI $144,333

Charlotte, NC $144,318

Saint Louis, MO $144,273

Springfield, IL $144,213

Elkhart, IN $144,183

York, PA $144,183

Gastonia, NC $144,168

Benton Harbor, MI $144,168

Beaumont, TX $144,079

Lorain, OH $144,049

Toledo, OH $143,989

Binghamton, NY $143,915

Rock Hill, SC $143,900

Rockford, IL $143,825

Fargo, ND $143,750

Elyria, OH $143,750

Flagstaff, AZ $143,646

Fort Lauderdale, FL $143,556

Miami, FL $143,467

Duluth, MN $143,228

Bangor, ME $143,034

Cedar Rapids, IA $142,869

Louisville, KY $142,795

Grand Rapids, MI $142,765

Hialeah, FL $142,750

Casper, WY $142,541

Scranton, PA $142,362

New Orleans, LA $142,317

Virginia Beach, VA $142,302

Akron, OH $142,227

Peoria, IL $142,033

Sarasota, FL $142,003

Green Bay, WI $141,899

Baton Rouge, LA $141,824

Charleston, SC $141,794

Nashville, TN $141,749

Jamestown, NY $141,720

Davenport, IA $141,720

Tucson, AZ $141,645

Cheyenne, WY $141,600

Saint Petersburg, FL $141,555

Tampa, FL $141,525

Omaha, NE $141,496

Port Arthur, TX $141,436

Evansville, IN $141,436

Bradenton, FL $141,376

Santa Fe, NM $141,107

Orlando, FL $140,958

Clearwater, FL $140,794

Canton, OH $140,480

La Crosse, WI $140,480

Grand Forks, ND $140,435

Albuquerque, NM $140,391

Tulsa, OK $140,391

Newport News, VA $140,376

High Point, NC $140,331

Ogden, UT $140,271

Corpus Christi, TX $140,152

Laramie, WY $140,062

Norfolk, VA $140,062

Rock Island, IL $139,973

Saginaw, MI $139,943

Jacksonville, FL $139,928

Salisbury, NC $139,898

Memphis, TN $139,868

Moline, IL $139,793

Fort Myers, FL $139,749

Waterloo, IA $139,554

Spartanburg, SC $139,405

Lincoln, NE $139,330

Fort Wayne, IN $139,301

Birmingham, AL $139,136

Cedar Falls, IA $139,107

Provo, UT $139,092

Springfield, OH $139,077

San Antonio, TX $139,047

Greensboro, NC $138,987

South Bend, IN $138,972

Winston Salem, NC $138,957

Boise, ID $138,912

Savannah, GA $138,808

Muskegon, MI $138,539

Lima, OH $138,360

Lake Charles, LA $138,300

Anderson, IN $138,270

Lexington, KY $138,226

Augusta, GA $138,181

Greenville, SC $138,181

Wichita, KS $138,046

Tuscaloosa, AL $138,046

Columbia, SC $137,912

Bloomington, IN $137,539

Roanoke, VA $137,449

Asheville, NC $137,255

Knoxville, TN $137,001

Shreveport, LA $136,986

Wilmington, NC $136,792

Frankfort, KY $136,508

Oklahoma City, OK $136,404

Chillicothe, OH $136,344

Longview, TX $136,329

Topeka, KS $136,284

Mobile, AL $136,060

Terre Haute, IN $136,001

Erie, PA $135,986

Altoona, PA $135,911

Melbourne, FL $135,866

Amarillo, TX $135,807

Killeen, TX $135,762

Fayetteville, AR $135,642

Sioux Falls, SD $135,538

Chattanooga, TN $135,448

Idaho Falls, ID $135,433

Gainesville, FL $135,120

Portsmouth, OH $135,045

Little Rock, AR $135,015

Lynchburg, VA $135,015

Lafayette, LA $134,955

Youngstown, OH $134,955

Temple, TX $134,896

Daytona Beach, FL $134,866

Clarksville, TN $134,851

Pensacola, FL $134,836

Hopkinsville, KY $134,388

Charleston, WV $134,373

Florence, SC $134,298

Sioux City, IA $134,209

Macon, GA $133,776

Tallahassee, FL $133,761

Fayetteville, NC $133,731

Waco, TX $133,701

Wichita Falls, TX $133,701

Pine Bluff, AR $133,641

Vincennes, IN $133,358

Lubbock, TX $133,298

Great Falls, MT $133,208

Alamogordo, NM $133,193

Abilene, TX $133,074

Rapid City, SD $132,880

Monroe, LA $132,880

Albany, GA $132,790

Huntington, WV $132,775

Jackson, MS $132,760

Greenville, MS $132,745

Parkersburg, WV $132,596

Montgomery, AL $132,566

Johnstown, PA $132,536

Springfield, MO $132,417

Biloxi, MS $132,342

Sumter, SC $132,029

Columbus, GA $132,014

Twin Falls, ID $131,924

Pascagoula, MS $131,730

Kingsport, TN $131,342

Gulfport, MS $131,297

Alexandria, LA $130,804

Fort Smith, AR $130,431

El Paso, TX $130,028

Helena, MT $129,834

Las Cruces, NM $129,356

Harlingen, TX $128,938

Pocatello, ID $128,803

Florence, AL $128,759

Brownsville, TX $128,729

Dothan, AL $128,490

Mcallen, TX $128,415

Columbus, MS $127,310

Altus, OK $126,623

Lawton, OK $126,340

Pierre, SD $125,802

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	$164,252	10%
Decision Making	$158,279	6%
Data Acquisition	$158,279	6%
Commitment	$156,786	5%
Continuous Learning	$156,786	5%
Azure	$156,786	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 April 01, 2026

$137,125

Average $149,320/year

$157,689

$11,427

Average $12,443/month

$13,141

$2,637

Average $2,872/week

$3,032

$66

Average $72/hour

$76

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$157,689	$13,141	$3,032	$76
Average	$149,320	$12,443	$2,872	$72
25th Percentile	$137,125	$11,427	$2,637	$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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