United States
Job
Principal Software Developer

Average Principal Software Developer Salary

Pay
Job Listings
How should I pay?Price a Job
What am I worth?Find market worth
$125,671
/ year

Avg. Base Salary (USD)
10%
$100k
MEDIAN
$126k
90%
$162k

The average salary for a Principal Software Developer is $125,671 in 2025

Base Salary
$100k - $162k
Bonus
$2k - $20k
Profit Sharing
$0 - $395k
Total Pay
$101k - $177k
Based on 97 salary profiles (last updated Mar 04 2025)
Is Average Principal Software Developer Salary your job title? Find out what you should be paid
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How do Principal Software Developers Rate Their Jobs?

4.1 out of 5
(15)
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 Software Developer? Take our survey to help us meet this goal.

Common Health Benefits for a Principal Software Developer

Medical
95%
Dental
93%
Vision
81%
None
4%

Gender Breakdown for Principal Software Developers

Male
97.9%
Female
2.1%
This data is based on 48 survey responses. Learn more about the gender pay gap.
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FAQs About Principal Software Developers

What is the highest pay for Principal Software Developers?

Our data indicates that the highest pay for a Principal Software Developer is $162k / year

What is the lowest pay for Principal Software Developers?

Our data indicates that the lowest pay for a Principal Software Developer is $100k / year

How can Principal Software Developers increase their salary?

Increasing your pay as a Principal Software Developer 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 Developer that oversees more junior Principal Software Developers, 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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