Microsoft Principal Software Engineering Salaries

160 verified profiles
Last updated on March 24, 2026
Average Annual Total Compensation is $351k

Employees at Microsoft as Principal Software Engineering earn an average of $351k, mostly ranging from $323k to $537k based on 160 profiles.

Employee Count
massive
Equity Vest
3.5 yrs ; 29% , 29% , 29% , 13%
Signing Bonus
$25k - $50k
  30,761 people laid off in the last year.
👨‍💻 Male $346k Male
Average Salary : $ 346 k
👩‍💻 Female $365k Female
Average Salary : $ 365 k
For every $100 paid to men, women are paid $105
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Salary Profiles
Company
Title(Level)
Annual Salary
Experience
School
Degree
Location
Skills

Base: $212k

Stocks: $90k

(Today) (27.5%) $65k

Bonus: $59k

TC:$361k

(Today) (6.9%) $336k

16yrs
NA
Masters

Works in Redmond, WA

Base: $212k

Stocks: $98k

(Today) (25.7%) $73k

Bonus: $41k

TC:$351k

(Today) (7.2%) $326k

15yrs
NA
Masters

Works in Seattle, WA

Software Engineering Manager (Principal EM)
Male

Base: $208k

Stocks: $39k

(Today) (28.6%) $28k

Bonus: $27k

TC:$274k

(Today) (4.1%) $263k

10yrs
NA
Masters

Works in Redmond, WA

Base: $194k

Stocks: $68k

(Today) (27.5%) $49k

Bonus: $39k

TC:$301k

(Today) (6.2%) $282k

15yrs
NA
Masters

Works in Redmond, WA

Software Engineering Manager (Principal EM)
Male

Base: $204k

Stocks: $97k

(Today) (26.9%) $71k

Bonus: $52k

TC:$353k

(Today) (7.4%) $327k

13yrs
NA
Bachelors

Works in Redmond, WA

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Base: $190k

Stocks: $89k

(Today) (24.9%) $67k

Bonus: $43k

TC:$322k

(Today) (6.9%) $300k

6yrs
NA
Bachelors

Works in Redmond, WA

Base: $221k

Stocks: $68k

(Today) (21.5%) $53k

Bonus: $49k

TC:$338k

(Today) (4.3%) $323k

15yrs
NA
Bachelors

Works in Mountain View, CA

Base: $217k

Stocks: $89k

(Today) (22.2%) $69k

Bonus: $58k

TC:$365k

(Today) (5.4%) $345k

25yrs
NA
Masters

Works in Washington, DC

Base: $182k

Stocks: $106k

(Today) (18.8%) $86k

Bonus: $29k

TC:$318k

(Today) (6.3%) $298k

18yrs
NA
Masters

Works in Atlanta, GA

Software Engineering Manager (Principal EM)
Male

Base: $196k

Stocks: $147k

(Today) (17.9%) $121k

Bonus: $49k

TC:$392k

(Today) (6.7%) $366k

10yrs
NA
Bachelors

Works in Redmond, WA

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Showing only 50 profiles out of 160. Upgrade to view elite profiles
Level
Experience
Avg
25th
50th
75th
90th
95th
9 to 20 yrs
$338k
$308k
$328k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
10 to 23 yrs
$341k
$314k
$327k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
15 to 15 yrs
$343k
$343k
$343k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
10 to 20 yrs
$390k
$359k
$379k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
14 to 23 yrs
$452k
$441k
$452k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
Level
Experience
9 to 20 yrs
Base
$211k
Stocks / Yr
$83k
Bonus
$46k
Total Salary
$338k
Level
Experience
10 to 23 yrs
Base
$214k
Stocks / Yr
$76k
Bonus
$51k
Total Salary
$341k
Level
Experience
15 to 15 yrs
Base
$206k
Stocks / Yr
$88k
Bonus
$49k
Total Salary
$343k
Level
Experience
10 to 20 yrs
Base
$224k
Stocks / Yr
$119k
Bonus
$51k
Total Salary
$390k
Level
Experience
14 to 23 yrs
Base
$188k
Stocks / Yr
$205k
Bonus
$60k
Total Salary
$452k
Microsoft Principal Software Engineering salary levels ranges from Principal EM (Software Engineering Manager) upto Senior Director (Software Engineering Manager), with Senior Director (Software Engineering Manager) level earning average salary of $452k along with $205k worth of stock options.

Frequently asked questions
How much do Microsoft Principal Software Engineering employees make?

Employees at Microsoft as Principal Software Engineering earn an average of $351k, mostly ranging from $323k per year to $537k per year based on 160 profiles. The top 10% of employees earn more than $428k per year.

What is the average salary of Microsoft Principal Software Engineering?

Average salary of an employee at Microsoft as Principal Software Engineering is $351k.

What is the highest salary offered at Microsoft as Principal Software Engineering?

Highest reported salary offered at Microsoft as Principal Software Engineering is $580k. The top 10% of employees earn more than $428k per year. The top 1% earn more than a whopping $537k per year.

What are the most common skills required at Microsoft as Principal Software Engineering?

1% of employees have skills in c++ . 1% also know engineering . 1% also know information systems .

What are the highest paying jobs at Microsoft as Principal Software Engineering?

The top 5 highest paying jobs at Microsoft as Principal Software Engineering with reported salaries are:

  • software engineering manager - $351k per year

Which are the top locations?
What is the median salary offered at Microsoft as Principal Software Engineering?

The median salary approximately calculated from salary profiles measured so far is $340k per year.

How is the age distributed among employees at Microsoft as Principal Software Engineering?

3% of employees lie between 31-36 yrs . 2% of the employees fall in the age group of 36-41 yrs .

What qualifications do employees have at Microsoft as Principal Software Engineering?

3% hold a PostGraduate degree. 3% hold a Graduate degree.

Which schools do employees working at Microsoft as Principal Software Engineering went to?

1% of employees studied at Anna University . 1% studied at Birla Institute of Technology And Science .

Frequently asked questions
How much do Microsoft Principal Software Engineering employees make?

Employees at Microsoft as Principal Software Engineering earn an average of $351k, mostly ranging from $323k per year to $537k per year based on 160 profiles. The top 10% of employees earn more than $428k per year.

What is the average salary of Microsoft Principal Software Engineering?

Average salary of an employee at Microsoft as Principal Software Engineering is $351k.

What is the highest salary offered at Microsoft as Principal Software Engineering?

Highest reported salary offered at Microsoft as Principal Software Engineering is $580k. The top 10% of employees earn more than $428k per year. The top 1% earn more than a whopping $537k per year.

What are the most common skills required at Microsoft as Principal Software Engineering?

1% of employees have skills in c++ . 1% also know engineering . 1% also know information systems .

What are the highest paying jobs at Microsoft as Principal Software Engineering?

The top 5 highest paying jobs at Microsoft as Principal Software Engineering with reported salaries are:

  • software engineering manager - $351k per year

Which are the top locations?
What is the median salary offered at Microsoft as Principal Software Engineering?

The median salary approximately calculated from salary profiles measured so far is $340k per year.

How is the age distributed among employees at Microsoft as Principal Software Engineering?

3% of employees lie between 31-36 yrs . 2% of the employees fall in the age group of 36-41 yrs .

What qualifications do employees have at Microsoft as Principal Software Engineering?

3% hold a PostGraduate degree. 3% hold a Graduate degree.

Which schools do employees working at Microsoft as Principal Software Engineering went to?

1% of employees studied at Anna University . 1% studied at Birla Institute of Technology And Science .

Salary Brackets
Percentage
200-300 k 200-300 k
Percentage : 15
300-400 k 300-400 k
Percentage : 64
400-500 k 400-500 k
Percentage : 13
> 500 k > 500 k
Percentage : 3
Age Brackets
Percentage
21-26 yrs 21-26 yrs
Percentage : 1
31-36 yrs 31-36 yrs
Percentage : 3
36-41 yrs 36-41 yrs
Percentage : 2
> 41 yrs > 41 yrs
Percentage : 1
Skills
Trending
c++
1 %
engineering
1 %
information systems
1 %
mathematics
1 %
python
1 %
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