▲3%
$133,783
Avg. Base Salary (USD)
/ year
Avg. Base Salary (USD)
10%
$100k
MEDIAN
$134k
90%
$173k
The average salary for a Principal Software Engineer is $133,783 in 2025
Base Salary
$100k - $173k
Bonus
$3k - $59k
Profit Sharing
$0 - $5k
Total Pay
$101k - $193k
Is Average Principal Software Engineer with Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) 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?
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What is the Pay by Experience Level for Principal Software Engineers?
▼3%
What Do Principal Software Engineers Do?
Principal Software Engineer Tasks
- Design, develop, integrate, test and deploy company's software.
- Execute product specification, system design, development and system integration.
- Develop new product concepts and development, deliver product prototypes.
- Conduct new technology research, concept specification and design of individual software components.
- Participate in product and program collaboration.
Find your market worth – how it works:
Common Health Benefits for a Principal Software Engineer
Medical
82%
Dental
76%
Vision
82%
None
18%
Gender Breakdown for Principal Software Engineers
Male
93.3%
Female
6.7%
This data is based on 15 survey responses. Learn more about the gender pay gap.
FAQs About Principal Software Engineers
What is the highest pay for Principal Software Engineers?
Our data indicates that the highest pay for a Principal Software Engineer is $173k / year
What is the lowest pay for Principal Software Engineers?
Our data indicates that the lowest pay for a Principal Software Engineer is $100k / year
How can Principal Software Engineers increase their salary?
Increasing your pay as a Principal Software 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 Software Engineer that oversees more junior Principal Software Engineers, this experience can increase the likelihood to earn more.