As of April 01, 2026, the average annual salary for Principal Software Engineer in Pennsylvania is $131,578, equivalent to $63 per hour, $2,530 weekly, or $10,965 monthly. These figures, sourced from Salary.com’s real-time job posting scans, highlight competitive earning potential for Principal Software Engineer in cities like Santa Clara, San Jose, and Fremont.

Annually Salaries for Principal Software Engineer in Pennsylvania vary widely, spanning from $111,454 to $152,901. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($121,045) and 75th percentile ($142,739), while top earners (90th percentile) make $152,901 per year. This $21,694 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, Pennsylvania Principal Software Engineer often earn 0.4% lower than national averages due to demand from Fortune 78 companies. However, Pennsylvania currently ranks 19 nationwide 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 $111,454 PA April 01, 2026
25th Percentile Principal Software Engineer Salary $121,045 PA April 01, 2026
50th Percentile Principal Software Engineer Salary $131,578 PA April 01, 2026
75th Percentile Principal Software Engineer Salary $142,739 PA April 01, 2026
90th Percentile Principal Software Engineer Salary $152,901 PA April 01, 2026
25% $121,045 10% $111,454 90% $152,901 75% $142,739 $131,578 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
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Software Engineer

Round 2 POS - Cranberry Township, PA

Sr. Principal Software Engineer

Skyworks Solutions, Inc. - Indiana, PA

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Principal Software Engineer

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Location Avg. Salary Date Updated
Location Stroudsburg, PA Avg. Salary $141,062 Date Updated April 01, 2026
Location Aaronsburg, PA Avg. Salary $135,554 Date Updated April 01, 2026
Location Abbottstown, PA Avg. Salary $134,702 Date Updated April 01, 2026
Location Abington, PA Avg. Salary $145,997 Date Updated April 01, 2026
Location Ackermanville, PA Avg. Salary $146,388 Date Updated April 01, 2026
Location Acme, PA Avg. Salary $128,844 Date Updated April 01, 2026
Location Acosta, PA Avg. Salary $123,686 Date Updated April 01, 2026
Location Adah, PA Avg. Salary $135,261 Date Updated April 01, 2026
Location Adamsburg, PA Avg. Salary $135,540 Date Updated April 01, 2026
Location Adamstown, PA Avg. Salary $137,959 Date Updated April 01, 2026
Job Openings for Principal Software Engineer in Pennsylvania

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

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