As of June 01, 2026, the average annual salary for Principal Software Engineer in Worcester, MA is $138,473, equivalent to $67 per hour, $2,663 weekly, or $11,539 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 Worcester, MA vary widely, spanning from $117,323 to $160,980. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($127,402) and 75th percentile ($150,254), while top earners (90th percentile) make $160,980 per year. This $22,852 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, Worcester Principal Software Engineer often earn 3.7% higher than national averages. However, Worcester currently ranks 210 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 $117,323 Worcester, MA June 01, 2026
25th Percentile Principal Software Engineer Salary $127,402 Worcester, MA June 01, 2026
50th Percentile Principal Software Engineer Salary $138,473 Worcester, MA June 01, 2026
75th Percentile Principal Software Engineer Salary $150,254 Worcester, MA June 01, 2026
90th Percentile Principal Software Engineer Salary $160,980 Worcester, MA June 01, 2026
25% $127,402 10% $117,323 90% $160,980 75% $150,254 $138,473 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
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Principal Software Engineer

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Job Openings for Principal Software Engineer in Worcester, MA

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

 
 
 
127402
150254
138473

Average Total Cash Compensation

Includes base and annual incentives

 
 
 
139759
171447
154832
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 Worcester, MA. The base salary for Principal Software Engineer ranges from $127,402 to $150,254 with the average base salary of $138,473. The total cash compensation, which includes base, and annual incentives, can vary anywhere from $139,759 to $171,447 with the average total cash compensation of $154,832.

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127402
150254

 

About Worcester, Massachusetts    Worcester has a total area of 38.6 square miles (100 km2), 37.6 square miles (97 km2) of land and 1.0 square mile (2.6 km2) (roughly 2.59%) of water. ....More

Worcester, Massachusetts  area prices were up 1.6% from a year ago

Principal Software Engineer Salary in popular cities: BostonSpringfieldLowell

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

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