As of August 01, 2026, the average annual salary for Principal Software Engineer in Wisconsin is $130,010, equivalent to $63 per hour, $2,500 weekly, or $10,834 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 Wisconsin vary widely, spanning from $110,108 to $151,117. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($119,593) and 75th percentile ($141,059), while top earners (90th percentile) make $151,117 per year. This $21,466 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, Wisconsin Principal Software Engineer often earn 1.6% lower than national averages due to demand from Fortune 78 companies. However, Wisconsin currently ranks 23 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 $110,108 WI August 01, 2026
25th Percentile Principal Software Engineer Salary $119,593 WI August 01, 2026
50th Percentile Principal Software Engineer Salary $130,010 WI August 01, 2026
75th Percentile Principal Software Engineer Salary $141,059 WI August 01, 2026
90th Percentile Principal Software Engineer Salary $151,117 WI August 01, 2026
25% $119,593 10% $110,108 90% $151,117 75% $141,059 $130,010 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
Change Search Criteria
Check out Principal Software Engineer jobs in Wisconsin

Principal Architect, Software Engineering

Credera Experienced Hiring Job Board - Town of Texas, WI

Software Engineer

i3 Product Development - Sun Prairie, WI

Software Engineer - Specialist

Eliassen Group - Prairie du Sac, WI

Search More Principal Software Engineer Jobs in Wisconsin

Principal Software Engineer

Review the job openings, similar jobs, level of education, and experience requirements for the Principal Software Engineer job to confirm that it is the job you are seeking.

See user submitted job responsibilities for Principal Software Engineer.

Select a city to view specific salary and bonus information for Principal Software Engineer

Loading results...
Location Avg. Salary Date Updated
Location Abbotsford, WI Avg. Salary $134,189 Date Updated August 01, 2026
Location Abrams, WI Avg. Salary $134,268 Date Updated August 01, 2026
Location Adams, WI Avg. Salary $134,559 Date Updated August 01, 2026
Location Adell, WI Avg. Salary $136,936 Date Updated August 01, 2026
Location Afton, WI Avg. Salary $136,110 Date Updated August 01, 2026
Location Albany, WI Avg. Salary $137,038 Date Updated August 01, 2026
Location Algoma, WI Avg. Salary $134,229 Date Updated August 01, 2026
Location Allenton, WI Avg. Salary $137,436 Date Updated August 01, 2026
Location Alma, WI Avg. Salary $136,248 Date Updated August 01, 2026
Location Alma Center, WI Avg. Salary $134,452 Date Updated August 01, 2026
Job Openings for Principal Software Engineer in Wisconsin

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

Jobs with a similar salary range to Principal Software Engineer : Computer Vision Researcher, Software Administrator, Software Developers