How much does a Principal Software Developer make? The average Principal Software Developer salary is $155,858 as of November 27, 2023, but the salary range typically falls between $141,756 and $176,124. Salary ranges can vary widely depending on many important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, the number of years you have spent in your profession. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
Salary range for a Principal Software Developer
$141,756 to $176,124
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What does a Principal Software Developer do?
Common responsibilities of a Principal Software Developer
Understand internal and external project needs in order to effectively design, develop and deploy these application.
March 28, 2023
Provide technical leadership and expertise to support broader strategic initiatives and technical roadmapLead whiteboard sessions and product design conversations on engineering the best solution to the challenges at hand.
March 16, 2023
Demonstrate strong oral and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate technical topics to management and non-technical audiences, as well as interface with the customer on a daily basis.
January 06, 2023
Build smart processes that enable delivery of quality software with high velocity, and ensure that team members understand and follow the processes.
January 06, 2023
Leads the design, development, documenting, testing and debugging of applications software and systems that contain logical and mathematical solutions.
January 31, 2023
Participate in the technical evaluation of platforms and technologies, tools, architecture and design, performance analysis as well as vendor selection.
April 15, 2023
Design and implement engineering solutions in many areas of game development such as procedural generation, game mechanics, AI, animation, physics, rendering, localization, and UI.
May 05, 2023
Principal Software Developer Salary in Major Cities
This chart shows the salary comparison for Principal Software Developer between major cities. San Francisco City consistently ranks #1 as of November 27, 2023. Click on the chart to see the detail salary data for Principal Software Developer in each city.
Principal Software Developer Salary by State
- Alaska
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- District of Columbia
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Iowa
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Massachusetts
- Maryland
- Maine
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Mississippi
- Montana
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- Nevada
- New York
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Vermont
- Washington
- Wisconsin
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
Principal Software Developer Salary by City
Click to see the salary for Principal Software Developer in these major U.S. cities.
| City Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $194,823 |
| Washington, DC | $173,501 |
| Miami, FL | $151,262 |
| Chicago, IL | $164,415 |
| Boston, MA | $175,605 |
| New York, NY | $183,133 |
| Dallas, TX | $154,845 |
If you'd like know Principal Software Developer Salary in other cities, then please select a city in
Average Salary Range for Principal Software Developer
Average Base Salary
Core compensation
141756
176124
Average Total Cash Compensation
Includes base and annual incentives
What is the average salary for Principal Software Developer in 2023?
These charts show the average base salary (core compensation), as well as the average total cash compensation for the job of Principal Software Developer in the United States. The base salary for Principal Software Developer ranges from $141,756 to $176,124 with the average base salary of $155,858. The total cash compensation, which includes base, and annual incentives, can vary anywhere from $152,264 to $198,000 with the average total cash compensation of $171,850.
View Average Salary for Principal Software Developer as table
| Average Salary | Average Salary Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Base Salary | $155,858 | $141,756 - $176,124 |
| Bonus | $15,992 | $10,507 - $21,876 |
| Total Pay | $171,850 | $152,264 - $198,000 |
* Base Salary represents gross income before taxes and deductions. It does not include additional pay such as benefits, bonuses, profit sharing or commissions.
* Total Pay combines base salary, bonuses, profit sharing, tips, commissions, overtime pay and other forms of cash earnings, as applicable for this job.
Estimate Salary for Principal Software Developer online for free
Salary.com Estimate Salary Tool provides free, accurate and real-time salary for thousands of careers. Please enter the following pay factors for Principal Software Developer, to get a real-time salary target. If you want to get more detailed salary information, please view Professional Salary Report
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141756
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Comments about Principal Software Developer
What's the difference between Principal Developer and Principal Software Developer?
According to our latest salary estimation on November 27, 2023. The average salary of Principal Software Developer is $155,858, and the average salary of Principal Developer is $125,042. The average salary of Principal Developer is lower than Principal Software Developer. ( 2023-11-27 salary.com )
I am a Principal Software Developer, which location’s salary is higher, Hattiesburg, MS or Nashua, NH?
Nashua, NH typically sees higher pay than Hattiesburg, MS for Principal Software Developer. a Principal Software Developer Salary in Nashua, NH is $168,950 as of November 27, 2023; a Principal Software Developer Salary in Hattiesburg, MS is $136,189 as of November 27, 2023. ( 2023-11-27 salary.com )
Principal Software Developer Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the salary of a Principal Software Developer vary from city to city?
The cost of living is tied to salaries. If the expenses are higher in a particular city, then the wage level will be higher as well to afford the people can opportunity to live there. This is why you're always going to make more money in New York City for example, than in a small town. ( 2023-11-27 salary.com )
What are the Pay Factors for Principal Software Developer?
Salary ranges for a Principal Software Developer can vary widely, depending on the city and several other pay factors, including (but not limited to) education level, certifications, additional skills, and work experience. Click here to view Eight Factors That Can Affect Your Pay ( 2023-11-27 salary.com )
How the Pay Factors Influence Your Pay?
Salaries are ultimately dictated by the position being applied to, and hiring company, but there are several important pay factors that come into play based on your individual history that could impact your value to the company. Salary.com's Personal Salary Report will analyze these factors for you to help you maximize your earning potential. ( 2023-11-27 salary.com )
Learn more about: Compensation Packages, Employee Flight Risk, Gender Pay Gap, Job Openings for This Role
Last Update: November 27, 2023