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Senior Principal Systems Engineer Salary in Massachusetts

How much does a Senior Principal Systems Engineer make in Massachusetts?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Senior Principal Systems Engineer in Massachusetts is $179,191 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $86.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $195,402
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $163,719 to $187,676
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $149,634
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Paid Annually Paid Monthly Paid Semimonthly Paid Biweekly Paid Weekly Paid Hourly
View as table View as graph 25% $163,719 10% $149,634 90% $195,402 75% $187,676 $179,191 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Senior Principal Systems Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $187,676 $15,640 $3,609 $90
Average $179,191 $14,933 $3,446 $86
25th Percentile $163,719 $13,643 $3,148 $79
Check out Senior Principal Systems Engineer Job Openings in Massachusetts
Electrical Systems Senior Principal Engineer

Dell Careers - Hopkinton, MA

Senior Principal Systems Development Engineer

Dell Careers - Hopkinton, MA

Principal Systems Safety Engineer

Judit Inc - Wilmington, MA

Principal Software Systems Engineer

Dell - Brookline, MA

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Key Factors That Influence Senior Principal Systems Engineer Salaries

A Senior Principal Systems 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 Senior Principal Systems Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Senior Principal Systems 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): $128,536
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $157,333
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $180,266
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $151,897
  • Expert (over 8 years): $164,564
Levels Salary
Software ... Level Senior Principal Systems Engineer$128,536
Software ... Level Senior Principal Systems Engineer$157,333
Senior Pr... Level Senior Principal Systems Engineer$180,266
Software ... Level Senior Principal Systems Engineer$151,897
Software ... Level Senior Principal Systems Engineer$164,564
$128,536 0 yr
$157,333 < 2 yrs
$180,266 2-4 yrs
$151,897 5-8 yrs
$164,564 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Senior Principal Systems 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:

  • Agawam: $169,850
  • Amherst: $171,092
  • Barre: $172,801

Senior Principal Systems Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Senior Principal Systems Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 55% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Internet sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Senior Principal Systems Engineer positions in Transportation or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Senior Principal Systems Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Senior Principal Systems Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$223,988$108.025%
Internet$215,029$103.020%
Software & Networking$215,029$103.020%
Pharmaceuticals$206,069$99.015%
Telecom$200,694$96.012%

Senior Principal Systems Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Senior Principal Systems 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 August 01, 2026
$163,719
Average $179,191/year
$187,676
$13,643
Average $14,933/month
$15,640
$3,148
Average $3,446/week
$3,609
$79
Average $86/hour
$90
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $187,676 $15,640 $3,609 $90
Average $179,191 $14,933 $3,446 $86
25th Percentile $163,719 $13,643 $3,148 $79

Salaries of jobs related to Senior Principal Systems Engineer

Find Your Next Senior Principal Systems Engineer Job

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

United States

  • STR

    Woburn, MA

    Principal Radar Systems Engineer

    STR | Woburn, MA

    Job Description. Job Description. STR is focused on delivering National Defense capabilities by driving mission-focused strategies to develop advanced tech... more

    7 Days Ago

  • The Computer Merchant

    Woburn, MA

    Principal Systems Security Engineer

    The Computer Merchant | Woburn, MA

    JOB TITLE:CYBERSECURITY ENGINEER LOCATION:WOBURN, MA RATE RANGE:90.00-96.00 PER HOUR JOB#:15010393 REQUIRED:Typically requires a Bachelor's Degree in Scien... more

    7 Days Ago

  • Jobtailor

    Burlington, MA

    Principal Software Engineer Rust Systems

    Jobtailor | Burlington, MA

    Responsibilities. Integrate Rust (Cargo-based workflows) into the existing CMK (custom Make) build system so Rust shared libraries (.so/.dll) compile, link... more

    5 Days Ago

  • Astrion

    North Lexington, MA

    Principal Systems Interoperability and Integration Engineer

    Astrion | North Lexington, MA

    Job Description. Job Description. Overview. Systems Interoperability and Integration Engineer SME. WORK LOCATION. Hanscom AFB, MA (In Office/On Base 5 days... more

    6 Days Ago

  • Hi Marley

    Boston, MA

    Sr IT Systems Engineer

    Hi Marley | Boston, MA

    Job Description. Job Description. Insurance touches people during some of the most challenging moments in their lives. Hi Marley is on a mission to transfo... more

    5 Days Ago

  • L3Harris Technologies

    Boston, MA

    Sr Specialist Systems Engineer

    L3Harris Technologies | Boston, MA

    L3Harris Technologies has an immediate opening for a Senior Specialist, Systems Engineer on 2nd shift in Wilmington, MA. The ideal candidate for this posit... more

    6 Days Ago

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Cost of Living In Massachusetts

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