United States
Job
Principal Design Engineer

Average Principal Design Engineer Salary

Pay
Job Listings
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What am I worth?Find market worth
$130,583
/ year

Avg. Base Salary (USD)
10%
$86k
MEDIAN
$131k
90%
$174k

The average salary for a Principal Design Engineer is $130,583 in 2025

Base Salary
$86k - $174k
Bonus
$5k - $59k
Profit Sharing
$2k - $75k
Total Pay
$88k - $237k
Based on 53 salary profiles (last updated Mar 04 2025)
Is Average Principal Design Engineer Salary your job title? Find out what you should be paid
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How do Principal Design Engineers Rate Their Jobs?

3.5 out of 5
(8)
Highly Satisfied
0Reviews
We currently don't have any reviews for this job and need at least 5 ratings before we can calculate a satisfaction score. Are you a Principal Design Engineer? Take our survey to help us meet this goal.

Common Health Benefits for a Principal Design Engineer

Medical
96%
Dental
93%
Vision
84%
None
2%

Gender Breakdown for Principal Design Engineers

Male
89.7%
Female
10.3%
This data is based on 29 survey responses. Learn more about the gender pay gap.
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FAQs About Principal Design Engineers

What is the highest pay for Principal Design Engineers?

Our data indicates that the highest pay for a Principal Design Engineer is $174k / year

What is the lowest pay for Principal Design Engineers?

Our data indicates that the lowest pay for a Principal Design Engineer is $86k / year

How can Principal Design Engineers increase their salary?

Increasing your pay as a Principal Design Engineer is possible in different ways. Change of employer: Consider a career move to a new employer that is willing to pay higher for your skills. Level of Education: Gaining advanced degrees may allow this role to increase their income potential and qualify for promotions. Managing Experience: If you are a Principal Design Engineer that oversees more junior Principal Design Engineers, this experience can increase the likelihood to earn more.

WHAT AM I WORTH?
What your skills are worth in the job market is constantly changing.
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