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: starting around $145,588 for beginners, reaching about $147,291 at mid-level, and approach $150,838 for experts.

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 $165,345, California $164,718, Massachusetts $162,522. 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: $165,868; Principle Engineer: $150,494; Test Engineer V: $147,706; Test Engineer IV: $135,250; Automation Test Engineer: $121,822.

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 January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Principle Test Engineer in the United States is $149,336 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): $165,368
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $137,070 to $157,728
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $125,902

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Principle Test Engineer Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$157,728	$13,144	$3,033	$76
Average	$149,336	$12,445	$2,872	$72
25th Percentile	$137,070	$11,423	$2,636	$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): $145,588
Early Career (1-2 years): $146,440
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $147,291
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $148,484
Expert (over 8 years): $150,838

Levels	Salary
Entry Level Principle Test Engineer	$145,588
Intermediate Level Principle Test Engineer	$146,440
Senior Level Principle Test Engineer	$147,291
Specialist Level Principle Test Engineer	$148,484
Expert Level Principle Test Engineer	$150,838

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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: $165,345.
California: $164,718.
Massachusetts: $162,522.

District of Columbia $165,345

California $164,718

Massachusetts $162,522

Washington $161,925

New Jersey $161,865

Alaska $161,656

Connecticut $159,595

New York $158,759

Hawaii $156,086

Rhode Island $154,832

Maryland $153,980

Minnesota $152,816

Colorado $152,368

Illinois $152,218

Oregon $151,651

Delaware $151,233

New Hampshire $150,970

Virginia $150,381

Pennsylvania $148,664

Nevada $147,798

North Dakota $147,514

Michigan $147,066

Wisconsin $146,902

Vermont $146,573

Texas $145,662

Maine $145,603

Arizona $145,513

Ohio $145,408

Georgia $144,035

Indiana $143,348

Wyoming $143,213

Utah $143,004

Iowa $142,915

Kansas $142,198

Louisiana $141,989

North Carolina $141,914

Missouri $141,884

Florida $141,302

Montana $140,988

Nebraska $140,689

Kentucky $140,525

South Carolina $139,928

Tennessee $139,554

Idaho $139,405

New Mexico $138,315

Oklahoma $138,076

Alabama $137,195

South Dakota $135,717

Arkansas $134,910

West Virginia $134,477

Mississippi $133,178

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: $188,357
San Francisco: $186,506
Oakland: $182,369

San Jose, CA $188,357

San Francisco, CA $186,506

Oakland, CA $182,369

New York, NY $173,065

Queens Village, NY $171,945

Paramus, NJ $170,751

Passaic, NJ $170,601

Bergenfield, NJ $170,452

Stamford, CT $170,228

Huntington, NY $170,079

Newark, NJ $169,108

Bridgeport, CT $168,809

New Brunswick, NJ $168,317

Vallejo, CA $168,003

Middlesex, NJ $167,913

Somerset, NJ $167,779

Petaluma, CA $167,436

Santa Cruz, CA $166,853

Boston, MA $166,554

Monterey, CA $165,808

Fairbanks, AK $165,703

Los Angeles, CA $165,419

Washington, DC $165,345

Seattle, WA $165,076

Santa Rosa, CA $165,046

Juneau, AK $164,613

Orange, CA $164,120

Anchorage, AK $163,851

Anaheim, CA $163,747

Santa Ana, CA $163,523

Nassau, NY $163,433

Long Beach, CA $163,374

Danbury, CT $163,329

Santa Maria, CA $162,821

Everett, WA $162,791

Bremerton, WA $162,059

Trenton, NJ $161,776

Sacramento, CA $161,716

San Diego, CA $161,641

Brockton, MA $161,582

Tacoma, WA $161,522

Santa Barbara, CA $161,313

Lowell, MA $160,715

New Suffolk, NY $160,656

Nashua, NH $160,476

Lompoc, CA $160,238

Ventura, CA $160,088

Stockton, CA $160,043

New Haven, CT $159,745

Atlantic City, NJ $159,356

Hartford, CT $159,028

Modesto, CA $158,953

Poughkeepsie, NY $158,625

New Britain, CT $158,550

Olympia, WA $158,341

Kennewick, WA $158,341

New London, CT $158,311

Norwich, CT $158,266

Lawrence, MA $158,192

Bakersfield, CA $157,773

Riverside, CA $157,564

New Bedford, MA $157,564

Richland, WA $157,415

Portsmouth, NH $157,296

Vineland, NJ $157,266

San Bernardino, CA $157,146

Boulder, CO $156,728

Worcester, MA $156,609

Portland, OR $156,474

Saint Paul, MN $156,295

Minneapolis, MN $156,295

Philadelphia, PA $156,086

Honolulu, HI $155,295

Springfield, MA $154,772

Providence, RI $154,757

Chicago, IL $154,324

Bellingham, WA $154,145

Baltimore, MD $153,980

Chico, CA $153,607

Wilmington, DE $153,353

Pittsfield, MA $153,204

Manchester, NH $152,920

Spokane, WA $152,263

Denver, CO $152,248

Albany, NY $151,546

Troy, NY $151,486

Schenectady, NY $151,173

Burlington, VT $150,844

Portland, ME $150,322

Salem, OR $150,202

Yakima, WA $150,172

Ann Arbor, MI $150,127

Rochester, MN $149,709

Fresno, CA $149,635

Reno, NV $149,635

Milwaukee, WI $149,500

Detroit, MI $149,351

Allentown, PA $149,306

Carson City, NV $149,291

Houston, TX $149,067

Colorado Springs, CO $149,052

Syracuse, NY $148,978

Eugene, OR $148,694

Bismarck, ND $148,515

Gary, IN $148,515

Galveston, TX $148,515

Springfield, OR $148,395

Medford, OR $148,037

Fort Collins, CO $147,977

Austin, TX $147,858

Mesa, AZ $147,544

Phoenix, AZ $147,514

Dallas, TX $147,469

Reading, PA $147,380

Saint Cloud, MN $147,320

Concord, NH $147,186

Madison, WI $147,126

Utica, NY $146,723

Raleigh, NC $146,603

Las Vegas, NV $146,588

Rochester, NY $146,484

Des Moines, IA $146,469

Atlanta, GA $146,230

Battle Creek, MI $146,185

Salt Lake City, UT $146,140

Lancaster, PA $145,916

Champaign, IL $145,886

Harrisburg, PA $145,707

Durham, NC $145,573

Kansas City, MO $145,558

Kansas City, KS $145,528

Fort Worth, TX $145,513

Boca Raton, FL $145,453

Cleveland, OH $145,438

Columbus, OH $145,408

Pittsburgh, PA $145,394

Richmond, VA $145,334

Indianapolis, IN $145,304

Cincinnati, OH $145,110

Petersburg, VA $144,886

Billings, MT $144,557

Lansing, MI $144,557

Huntsville, AL $144,557

Lebanon, PA $144,542

Dayton, OH $144,527

Pueblo, CO $144,527

Appleton, WI $144,483

Buffalo, NY $144,423

Racine, WI $144,348

Charlotte, NC $144,333

Saint Louis, MO $144,288

Springfield, IL $144,229

Elkhart, IN $144,199

York, PA $144,199

Gastonia, NC $144,184

Benton Harbor, MI $144,184

Beaumont, TX $144,094

Lorain, OH $144,064

Toledo, OH $144,005

Binghamton, NY $143,930

Rock Hill, SC $143,915

Rockford, IL $143,840

Fargo, ND $143,766

Elyria, OH $143,766

Flagstaff, AZ $143,661

Fort Lauderdale, FL $143,572

Miami, FL $143,482

Duluth, MN $143,243

Bangor, ME $143,049

Cedar Rapids, IA $142,885

Louisville, KY $142,810

Grand Rapids, MI $142,780

Hialeah, FL $142,765

Casper, WY $142,556

Scranton, PA $142,377

New Orleans, LA $142,332

Virginia Beach, VA $142,317

Akron, OH $142,243

Peoria, IL $142,048

Sarasota, FL $142,019

Green Bay, WI $141,914

Baton Rouge, LA $141,839

Charleston, SC $141,809

Nashville, TN $141,765

Jamestown, NY $141,735

Davenport, IA $141,735

Tucson, AZ $141,660

Cheyenne, WY $141,615

Saint Petersburg, FL $141,571

Tampa, FL $141,541

Omaha, NE $141,511

Port Arthur, TX $141,451

Evansville, IN $141,451

Bradenton, FL $141,391

Santa Fe, NM $141,123

Orlando, FL $140,973

Clearwater, FL $140,809

Canton, OH $140,495

La Crosse, WI $140,495

Grand Forks, ND $140,451

Albuquerque, NM $140,406

Tulsa, OK $140,406

Newport News, VA $140,391

High Point, NC $140,346

Ogden, UT $140,286

Corpus Christi, TX $140,167

Laramie, WY $140,077

Norfolk, VA $140,077

Rock Island, IL $139,988

Saginaw, MI $139,958

Jacksonville, FL $139,943

Salisbury, NC $139,913

Memphis, TN $139,883

Moline, IL $139,808

Fort Myers, FL $139,764

Waterloo, IA $139,569

Spartanburg, SC $139,420

Lincoln, NE $139,345

Fort Wayne, IN $139,316

Birmingham, AL $139,151

Cedar Falls, IA $139,121

Provo, UT $139,106

Springfield, OH $139,092

San Antonio, TX $139,062

Greensboro, NC $139,002

South Bend, IN $138,987

Winston Salem, NC $138,972

Boise, ID $138,927

Savannah, GA $138,823

Muskegon, MI $138,554

Lima, OH $138,375

Lake Charles, LA $138,315

Anderson, IN $138,285

Lexington, KY $138,240

Augusta, GA $138,196

Greenville, SC $138,196

Wichita, KS $138,061

Tuscaloosa, AL $138,061

Columbia, SC $137,927

Bloomington, IN $137,553

Roanoke, VA $137,464

Asheville, NC $137,270

Knoxville, TN $137,016

Shreveport, LA $137,001

Wilmington, NC $136,807

Frankfort, KY $136,523

Oklahoma City, OK $136,418

Chillicothe, OH $136,359

Longview, TX $136,344

Topeka, KS $136,299

Mobile, AL $136,075

Terre Haute, IN $136,015

Erie, PA $136,000

Altoona, PA $135,926

Melbourne, FL $135,881

Amarillo, TX $135,821

Killeen, TX $135,776

Fayetteville, AR $135,657

Sioux Falls, SD $135,552

Chattanooga, TN $135,463

Idaho Falls, ID $135,448

Gainesville, FL $135,134

Portsmouth, OH $135,059

Little Rock, AR $135,030

Lynchburg, VA $135,030

Lafayette, LA $134,970

Youngstown, OH $134,970

Temple, TX $134,910

Daytona Beach, FL $134,880

Clarksville, TN $134,865

Pensacola, FL $134,850

Hopkinsville, KY $134,402

Charleston, WV $134,387

Florence, SC $134,313

Sioux City, IA $134,223

Macon, GA $133,790

Tallahassee, FL $133,775

Fayetteville, NC $133,745

Waco, TX $133,715

Wichita Falls, TX $133,715

Pine Bluff, AR $133,656

Vincennes, IN $133,372

Lubbock, TX $133,312

Great Falls, MT $133,223

Alamogordo, NM $133,208

Abilene, TX $133,088

Rapid City, SD $132,894

Monroe, LA $132,894

Albany, GA $132,805

Huntington, WV $132,790

Jackson, MS $132,775

Greenville, MS $132,760

Parkersburg, WV $132,610

Montgomery, AL $132,581

Johnstown, PA $132,551

Springfield, MO $132,431

Biloxi, MS $132,356

Sumter, SC $132,043

Columbus, GA $132,028

Twin Falls, ID $131,938

Pascagoula, MS $131,744

Kingsport, TN $131,356

Gulfport, MS $131,311

Alexandria, LA $130,818

Fort Smith, AR $130,445

El Paso, TX $130,042

Helena, MT $129,848

Las Cruces, NM $129,370

Harlingen, TX $128,952

Pocatello, ID $128,817

Florence, AL $128,772

Brownsville, TX $128,743

Dothan, AL $128,504

Mcallen, TX $128,429

Columbus, MS $127,324

Altus, OK $126,637

Lawton, OK $126,353

Pierre, SD $125,816

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	$164,270	10%
Decision Making	$158,296	6%
Data Acquisition	$158,296	6%
Commitment	$156,803	5%
Continuous Learning	$156,803	5%
Azure	$156,803	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 January 01, 2026

$137,070

Average $149,336/year

$157,728

$11,423

Average $12,445/month

$13,144

$2,636

Average $2,872/week

$3,033

$66

Average $72/hour

$76

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$157,728	$13,144	$3,033	$76
Average	$149,336	$12,445	$2,872	$72
25th Percentile	$137,070	$11,423	$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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