Microsoft Principal Software Engineering Salaries

115 verified profiles
Last updated on February 12, 2026
Average Annual Total Compensation is $346k

Employees at Microsoft as Principal Software Engineering earn an average of $346k, mostly ranging from $319k to $525k based on 115 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 $340k Male
Average Salary : $ 340 k
👩‍💻 Female $311k Female
Average Salary : $ 311 k
For every $100 paid to men, women are paid $91
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Salary Profiles
Company
Title(Level)
Annual Salary
Experience
School
Degree
Location
Skills

Base: $212k

Stocks: $98k

(Today) (19.5%) $79k

Bonus: $41k

TC:$351k

(Today) (5.4%) $332k

15yrs
NA
Masters

Works in Seattle, WA

Software Engineering Manager (Principal EM)
Male

Base: $208k

Stocks: $39k

(Today) (22.4%) $30k

Bonus: $27k

TC:$274k

(Today) (3.2%) $266k

10yrs
NA
Masters

Works in Redmond, WA

Base: $194k

Stocks: $68k

(Today) (21.4%) $53k

Bonus: $39k

TC:$301k

(Today) (4.8%) $286k

15yrs
NA
Masters

Works in Redmond, WA

Software Development Manager (Principal EM)
Male

Base: $234k

Stocks: $76k

Bonus: $56k

TC:$367k

22yrs
NA
Masters

Works in Redmond, WA

Base: $225k

Stocks: $147k

Bonus: $60k

TC:$432k

20yrs
NA
Masters

Works in Redmond, WA

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Base: $186k

Stocks: $63k

Bonus: $51k

TC:$300k

7yrs
NA
Bachelors

Works in Redmond, WA

Base: $199k

Stocks: $140k

Bonus: $35k

TC:$374k

12yrs
NA
Bachelors

Works in Redmond, WA

Software Engineering Manager (Principal EM)
Male

Base: $203k

Stocks: $63k

Bonus: $41k

TC:$306k

20yrs
NA
Bachelors

Works in Seattle, WA

Base: $206k

Stocks: $78k

Bonus: $39k

TC:$323k

13yrs
NA
Masters

Works in Redmond, WA

Base: $223k

Stocks: $97k

Bonus: $73k

TC:$393k

13yrs
NA
Bachelors

Works in Redmond, WA

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Showing only 50 profiles out of 115. Upgrade to view elite profiles
Level
Experience
Avg
25th
50th
75th
90th
95th
13 to 16 yrs
$315k
$303k
$306k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
7 to 22 yrs
$324k
$301k
$323k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
15 to 15 yrs
$343k
$343k
$343k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
10 to 20 yrs
$382k
$357k
$374k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
Level
Experience
13 to 16 yrs
Base
$196k
Stocks / Yr
$77k
Bonus
$41k
Total Salary
$315k
Level
Experience
7 to 22 yrs
Base
$208k
Stocks / Yr
$75k
Bonus
$42k
Total Salary
$324k
Level
Experience
15 to 15 yrs
Base
$206k
Stocks / Yr
$88k
Bonus
$49k
Total Salary
$343k
Level
Experience
10 to 20 yrs
Base
$221k
Stocks / Yr
$114k
Bonus
$50k
Total Salary
$382k
Microsoft Principal Software Engineering salary levels ranges from 65 (Software Engineering Manager) upto 66 (Software Engineering Manager), with 66 (Software Engineering Manager) level earning average salary of $382k along with $114k 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 $346k, mostly ranging from $319k per year to $525k per year based on 115 profiles. The top 10% of employees earn more than $418k per year.

What is the average salary of Microsoft Principal Software Engineering?

Average salary of an employee at Microsoft as Principal Software Engineering is $346k.

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

Highest reported salary offered at Microsoft as Principal Software Engineering is $549k. The top 10% of employees earn more than $418k per year. The top 1% earn more than a whopping $525k 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 - $346k 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 $335k per year.

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

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

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

4% 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 $346k, mostly ranging from $319k per year to $525k per year based on 115 profiles. The top 10% of employees earn more than $418k per year.

What is the average salary of Microsoft Principal Software Engineering?

Average salary of an employee at Microsoft as Principal Software Engineering is $346k.

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

Highest reported salary offered at Microsoft as Principal Software Engineering is $549k. The top 10% of employees earn more than $418k per year. The top 1% earn more than a whopping $525k 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 - $346k 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 $335k per year.

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

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

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

4% 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 : 19
300-400 k 300-400 k
Percentage : 59
400-500 k 400-500 k
Percentage : 10
> 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 : 3
> 41 yrs > 41 yrs
Percentage : 1
Skills
Trending
c++
1 %
engineering
1 %
information systems
1 %
mathematics
1 %
python
1 %
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