Check out your Company Bowl for anonymous work chats.
Bowls
Get actionable career advice tailored to you by joining more bowls.
Followed companies
Stay ahead in opportunities and insider tips by following your dream companies.
Job searches
Get personalized job recommendations and updates by starting your searches.
How much does Senior Principal Software Developer make?
Total pay range
$208K - $325K/yr
$258K/yrMedian total pay
Pay breakdown
$155K - $227K/yrBase pay
$52K - $98K/yrAdditional pay
About our data
Confident
Last updated Apr 10, 202524 Salaries submitted
How accurate is a total pay range of $208K-$325K/yr?
Your input helps Glassdoor refine our pay estimates over time.
Top paying industries
The top paying industry for Senior Principal Software Developer in United States is Information Technology with a median total pay of $327,545.
Information Technology
The top paying company in Information Technology for Senior Principal Software Developer is Palo Alto Networks.
Recent salaries shared by Senior Principal Software Developer
4 salaries
Job Title | Years of Experience
Total Pay
Base • Additional pay
Location
Date submitted
Job Title | Years of Experience
Location
Date submitted
Total Pay
Base • Additional pay
Senior Principal Software Developer
|
15+ years
$161K/yr
($157K • $4K)
Austin, TX
submitted on Feb 10, 2026
$161K/yr
$157K • $4K
Senior Principal Software Developer
|
15+ years
$185K - $216K/yr
Oakland Township, MI
submitted on Apr 7, 2025
$185K - $216K/yr
Anonymously share your salary to help the community.
Senior Principal Software Developer
|
15+ years
$143K/yr
($143K • $0)
San Diego, CA
submitted on Jul 8, 2024
$143K/yr
$143K • $0
Senior Principal Software Developer
|
15+ years
$230K - $268K/yr
Irvine, CA
submitted on Dec 3, 2021
$230K - $268K/yr
Viewing 1 - 4 of 4
Glassdoor Economist Pay Overview
What is the pay outlook for Engineering?
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.
Popular companies for Senior Principal Software Developers
Frequently asked questions about Senior Principal Software Developer salaries
The average salary for Senior Principal Software Developer is $257,617 per year or $124 per hour, with top earners making up to $397,447 (90th percentile). Typically, pay ranges from $207,577 (25th percentile) to $324,959 (75th percentile) annually. Salary estimates are based on 24 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by Senior Principal Software Developer employees.
The highest salary for Senior Principal Software Developer is $324,959 per year, $27,080 per month or $156 per hour.
The lowest salary for Senior Principal Software Developer is $207,577 per year, $17,298 per month or $100 per hour.
The salary trajectory of Senior Principal Software Developer ranges between locations and employers. The salary starts at $134,189 per year (estimate) and goes up to $376,004 per year (estimate) for the highest level of seniority.