Principal Software Engineering Salaries

188 verified profiles
Last updated on October 15, 2026
Average Annual Total Compensation is $344k

Employees as Principal Software Engineering earn an average of $344k, mostly ranging from $316k to $705k based on 188 profiles.

Average total compvs top-paid
Asian
$340k n=15
100%
White
$333k n=15
98%
Black
$333k n=5
98%
Hispanic
$326k n=5
96%
Multi-ethnic
$312k n=3
92%
Overall average $333k6figr.com
For every $100 paid to Asian employees, Multi-ethnics are paid $92
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Salary Profiles
Company
Title(Level)
Annual Salary
Experience
School
Degree
Location
Skills

Base: $212k

Stocks: $90k

(Today) (2.9%) $93k

Bonus: $59k

TC:$361k

(Today) (0.7%) $363k

16yrs
NA
Masters

Works in Redmond, WA

Base: $212k

Stocks: $98k

(Today) (5.4%) $103k

Bonus: $41k

TC:$351k

(Today) (1.5%) $356k

15yrs
NA
Masters

Works in Seattle, WA

Software Engineering Manager (Principal EM)
Male

Base: $208k

Stocks: $39k

(Today) (1.5%) $40k

Bonus: $27k

TC:$274k

(Today) (0.2%) $275k

10yrs
NA
Masters

Works in Redmond, WA

Base: $194k

Stocks: $68k

(Today) (2.9%) $70k

Bonus: $39k

TC:$301k

(Today) (0.7%) $303k

15yrs
NA
Masters

Works in Redmond, WA

Software Engineering Manager (Principal EM)
Male

Base: $204k

Stocks: $97k

(Today) (3.7%) $101k

Bonus: $52k

TC:$353k

(Today) (1.0%) $357k

13yrs
NA
Bachelors

Works in Redmond, WA

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Base: $190k

Stocks: $89k

(Today) (6.6%) $95k

Bonus: $43k

TC:$322k

(Today) (1.8%) $328k

6yrs
NA
Bachelors

Works in Redmond, WA

Base: $221k

Stocks: $68k

(Today) (11.3%) $76k

Bonus: $49k

TC:$338k

(Today) (2.3%) $345k

15yrs
NA
Bachelors

Works in Mountain View, CA

Base: $217k

Stocks: $89k

(Today) (10.4%) $99k

Bonus: $58k

TC:$365k

(Today) (2.6%) $374k

25yrs
NA
Masters

Works in Washington, DC

Base: $182k

Stocks: $106k

(Today) (15.2%) $122k

Bonus: $29k

TC:$318k

(Today) (5.1%) $334k

18yrs
NA
Masters

Works in Atlanta, GA

Software Engineering Manager (Principal EM)
Male

Base: $196k

Stocks: $147k

(Today) (16.6%) $172k

Bonus: $49k

TC:$392k

(Today) (6.2%) $416k

10yrs
NA
Bachelors

Works in Redmond, WA

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

Employees as Principal Software Engineering earn an average of $344k, mostly ranging from $316k per year to $705k per year based on 188 profiles. The top 10% of employees earn more than $429k per year.

What is the average salary of Principal Software Engineering?

Average salary of an employee as Principal Software Engineering is $344k.

What is the highest salary offered as Principal Software Engineering?

Highest reported salary offered as Principal Software Engineering is $1198k. The top 10% of employees earn more than $429k per year. The top 1% earn more than a whopping $705k per year.

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

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

  • software engineer - $506k per year

  • software engineering manager - $337k per year

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

The median salary approximately calculated from salary profiles measured so far is $333k per year.

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

5% of employees lie between 31-36 yrs . 4% of the employees fall in the age group of 36-41 yrs .

What qualifications do employees have as Principal Software Engineering?

6% hold a Graduate degree. 5% hold a PostGraduate degree.

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

1% of employees studied at Uttar Pradesh Technical University . 1% studied at Acharya Nagarjuna University .

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

Employees as Principal Software Engineering earn an average of $344k, mostly ranging from $316k per year to $705k per year based on 188 profiles. The top 10% of employees earn more than $429k per year.

What is the average salary of Principal Software Engineering?

Average salary of an employee as Principal Software Engineering is $344k.

What is the highest salary offered as Principal Software Engineering?

Highest reported salary offered as Principal Software Engineering is $1198k. The top 10% of employees earn more than $429k per year. The top 1% earn more than a whopping $705k per year.

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

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

  • software engineer - $506k per year

  • software engineering manager - $337k per year

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

The median salary approximately calculated from salary profiles measured so far is $333k per year.

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

5% of employees lie between 31-36 yrs . 4% of the employees fall in the age group of 36-41 yrs .

What qualifications do employees have as Principal Software Engineering?

6% hold a Graduate degree. 5% hold a PostGraduate degree.

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

1% of employees studied at Uttar Pradesh Technical University . 1% studied at Acharya Nagarjuna University .

Salary Brackets
100-200 k: 8%200-300 k: 16%300-400 k: 60%400-500 k: 12%> 500 k: 4%
  • 100-200 k
  • 200-300 k
  • 300-400 k
  • 400-500 k
  • > 500 k
Age Brackets
21-26 yrs: 9%31-36 yrs: 45%36-41 yrs: 36%> 41 yrs: 9%
  • 21-26 yrs
  • 31-36 yrs
  • 36-41 yrs
  • > 41 yrs
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