Engineering jobs are in high demand with workers receiving generous compensation packages and bonuses. Engineering offers ample opportunity for growth and development with transferable skills across an array of fields from software, supply chain and logistics to aerospace. Most roles require at least a bachelor’s degree. To remain competitive, job-seekers should consider specialization or skill-specific programs such as coding boot-camps or certifications.
Top paying industries
The top 5 paying industries for Principal Software Engineer in United States are Real Estate with a median total pay of $283,729, Retail & Wholesale with a median total pay of $227,101, Arts, Entertainment & Recreation with a median total pay of $223,360, Media & Communication with a median total pay of $220,217, and Agriculture with a median total pay of $217,629.
Real Estate
The top paying company in Real Estate for Principal Software Engineer is Fundrise.
Frequently asked questions about Principal Software Engineer salaries
The average salary for Principal Software Engineer is $285,993 per year or $137 per hour, with top earners making up to $454,064 (90th percentile). Typically, pay ranges from $227,467 (25th percentile) to $366,761 (75th percentile) annually. Salary estimates are based on 22161 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by Principal Software Engineer employees.
The highest salary for Principal Software Engineer is $366,761 per year, $30,563 per month or $176 per hour.
The lowest salary for Principal Software Engineer is $227,467 per year, $18,956 per month or $109 per hour.
The salary trajectory of Principal Software Engineer ranges between locations and employers. The salary starts at $153,671 per year (estimate) and goes up to $477,358 per year (estimate) for the highest level of seniority.
Anonymous Glassdoor ratings indicate that around 73% of principal software engineers are happy with what they're earning. A principal software engineer's salary can benefit from about $98,308.09 in additional pay, which come primarily from bonuses and profit sharing.
Your salary as a principal software engineer will depend on your qualifications, the amount of work experience you have, and company policies. Following the typical software engineer career path can lead to earning a total pay ranging between $185,507.68 to $454,074.51. As you gain experience, a promotion to a more senior position with an even higher total pay becomes possible.
Improved qualifications, certifications, and in-demand skills can help you earn more from your career as a principal software engineer. The better your credentials, the more valuable you'll be to your current or future employer. If you've completed your bachelor's degree, a master's degree in software engineering would be the next step, especially if you've got your eye on a promotion.
Learn new in-demand skills, such as cloud computing, React, Node.js, JavaScript, Linux, etc. No skill is ever wasted, and at the rate technology is progressing, there is always more to learn. Consider obtaining certifications such as Certified Software Development Professional, ICCP Certified Software Engineer or CIW Web Development Professional.
If you're applying for a new principal software engineer job, use your qualifications, in-demand skills, certifications, and any previous experience as bargaining chips to negotiate a good starting salary.
To negotiate a higher salary in you current job, start by asking for an increase. A good time would be around the anniversary of your job or during performance reviews, especially if you're convinced you've been doing outstanding work. Other times to justify a raise would be when you've added to your qualifications, your workload has increased exponentially, or you've had another job offer. Though many companies offer annual increases of 3%-5%, don't be afraid to ask for 10%-20%.