▲15%
$116,392
Avg. Base Salary (USD)
/ year
Avg. Base Salary (USD)
10%
$88k
MEDIAN
$116k
90%
$161k
The average salary for a Principal Engineer is $116,392 in 2025
Base Salary
$88k - $161k
Bonus
$5k - $24k
Profit Sharing
$0 - $6k
Total Pay
$88k - $188k
Is Average Mid-Career Principal Engineer with Product Development Skills Salary your job title? Find out what you should be paid
Use our tool to get a personalized report on your market worth.What's this?
EXPLORE BY:
Featured Content
‹
Remote Work
New research shows how to set pay for remote employees
Gender Pay Gap
New research shows that each woman experiences the disparity of gender pay gap in different ways, depending on her position, age, race and education.
Compensation Best Practices Report
From compensation planning to variable pay to pay equity analysis, we surveyed 4,900+ organizations on how they manage compensation.
Salary Budget Survey Report
See how organizations are shifting their salary budgets this year.
Retention Report
Get strategies you can use to retain top talent and learn how impactful employee retention really is.
Variable Pay Playbook
Before you decide whether variable pay is right for your org, get a deeper understanding of the variable pay options and the cultural impact of pay choices.
›
What is the Pay by Experience Level for Principal Engineers?
▲20%
What Do Principal Engineers Do?
Find your market worth – how it works:
Common Health Benefits for a Principal Engineer
Medical
89%
Dental
78%
Vision
67%
None
11%
Gender Breakdown for Principal Engineers
Male
77.8%
Female
22.2%
This data is based on 9 survey responses. Learn more about the gender pay gap.
FAQs About Principal Engineers
What is the highest pay for Principal Engineers?
Our data indicates that the highest pay for a Principal Engineer is $161k / year
What is the lowest pay for Principal Engineers?
Our data indicates that the lowest pay for a Principal Engineer is $88k / year
How can Principal Engineers increase their salary?
Increasing your pay as a Principal 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 Engineer that oversees more junior Principal Engineers, this experience can increase the likelihood to earn more.