▼3%
$183,407
Avg. Base Salary (USD)
/ year
Avg. Base Salary (USD)
10%
$133k
MEDIAN
$183k
90%
$205k
The average salary for a Principal Software Architect is $183,407 in 2025
Base Salary
$133k - $205k
Bonus
$10k - $25k
Profit Sharing
$0 - $22k
Total Pay
$133k - $229k
Is Average Principal Software Architect with Software Architecture Skills Salary in San Francisco, California 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?
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What is the Pay by Experience Level for Principal Software Architects?
▼1%
What Do Principal Software Architects Do?
Principal Software Architect Tasks
- Drive technology innovation and research; lead technology strategy through market analyses, and share emerging technology trends with team.
- Confer with users, sponsors and stakeholders to identify their vision and needs; design a software or group of software that meet client's needs.
- Provide practical solutions to problems that arise during the engineering and architectural processes.
- Identify product requirements and limitations to ensure system function.
Find your market worth – how it works:
Common Health Benefits for a Principal Software Architect
Medical
92%
Dental
83%
Vision
75%
None
8%
Gender Breakdown for Principal Software Architects
Male
77.8%
Female
22.2%
This data is based on 9 survey responses. Learn more about the gender pay gap.
FAQs About Principal Software Architects
What is the highest pay for Principal Software Architects in San Francisco?
Our data indicates that the highest pay for a Principal Software Architect in San Francisco is $205k / year
What is the lowest pay for Principal Software Architects in San Francisco?
Our data indicates that the lowest pay for a Principal Software Architect in San Francisco is $133k / year
How can Principal Software Architects increase their salary?
Increasing your pay as a Principal Software Architect 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 Software Architect that oversees more junior Principal Software Architects, this experience can increase the likelihood to earn more.