As of June 01, 2026, the average annual salary for Principal Software Engineer in Cincinnati, OH is $128,428, equivalent to $62 per hour, $2,470 weekly, or $10,702 monthly. These figures, sourced from Salary.com’s real-time job posting scans, highlight competitive earning potential for Principal Software Engineer in cities like San Jose, Santa Clara, and San Francisco.

Annually Salaries for Principal Software Engineer in Cincinnati, OH vary widely, spanning from $108,812 to $149,303. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($118,161) and 75th percentile ($139,355), while top earners (90th percentile) make $149,303 per year. This $21,194 pay gap underscores opportunities for salary growth through certifications, specialized skills like Analysis or Software Development, or targeting high-paying regions like District of Columbia or California.

Location and experience significantly influence earnings. For example, Cincinnati Principal Software Engineer often earn 0.2% lower than national averages. However, Cincinnati currently ranks 461 statewide for Principal Software Engineer job salary. Professionals are advised to focus on high-growth sectors like to offset market challenges.

Based on HR-reported data: a national average with a geographic differential
Principal Software Engineer Salaries by Percentile
Percentile Salary Location Last Updated
10th Percentile Principal Software Engineer Salary $108,812 Cincinnati, OH June 01, 2026
25th Percentile Principal Software Engineer Salary $118,161 Cincinnati, OH June 01, 2026
50th Percentile Principal Software Engineer Salary $128,428 Cincinnati, OH June 01, 2026
75th Percentile Principal Software Engineer Salary $139,355 Cincinnati, OH June 01, 2026
90th Percentile Principal Software Engineer Salary $149,303 Cincinnati, OH June 01, 2026
25% $118,161 10% $108,812 90% $149,303 75% $139,355 $128,428 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
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Check out Principal Software Engineer jobs in Cincinnati, Ohio

Software Engineer - One Digital Warehouse

Procter & Gamble - Cincinnati, OH

Software Engineer - One Digital Warehouse

Procter & Gamble - Saint Bernard, OH

Software Engineer - One Digital Warehouse

Procter & Gamble - Corryville, OH

Software Engineer - One Digital Warehouse

Procter & Gamble - Golf Manor, OH

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Principal Software Engineer

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Job Openings for Principal Software Engineer in Cincinnati, OH

Career Path for this job

  1. Down a level:

    Software Engineer II

    2 - 4 years experience
    Bachelor's Degree

  2. This Job:

    Principal Software Engineer

    4 - 7 years experience
    Bachelor's Degree

  3. Up a level:

    Software Engineer IV

    7 + years experience
    Bachelor's Degree

Understand the total compensation opportunity for a Principal Software Engineer, base salary plus other pay elements

Average Base Salary

Core compensation

 
 
 
118161
139355
128428

Average Total Cash Compensation

Includes base and annual incentives

 
 
 
129621
159010
143601
These charts show the average base salary (core compensation), as well as the average total cash compensation for the job of Principal Software Engineer in Cincinnati, OH. The base salary for Principal Software Engineer ranges from $118,161 to $139,355 with the average base salary of $128,428. The total cash compensation, which includes base, and annual incentives, can vary anywhere from $129,621 to $159,010 with the average total cash compensation of $143,601.

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118161
139355

 

About Cincinnati, Ohio    Cincinnati (/ˌsɪnsɪˈnæti/ SIN-sih-NAT-ee) is a major city in the U.S. state of Ohio, and is the government seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, t....More

Cincinnati, Ohio  area prices were up 1.1% from a year ago

Principal Software Engineer Salary in popular cities: ColumbusClevelandToledo

Skills associated with Principal Software Engineer: Design, Planning, Software Development, BUILD ...More

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