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 4 paying industries for Software Engineer Principal in United States are Retail & Wholesale with a median total pay of $290,276, Information Technology with a median total pay of $220,301, Manufacturing with a median total pay of $218,852 and Financial Services with a median total pay of $200,269.
Retail & Wholesale
The top paying company in Retail & Wholesale for Software Engineer Principal is The Home Depot.
Frequently asked questions about Principal Software Engineer salaries
The average salary for Principal Software Engineer is $266,531 per year or $128 per hour, with top earners making up to $438,940 (90th percentile). Typically, pay ranges from $207,966 (25th percentile) to $348,913 (75th percentile) annually. Salary estimates are based on 22164 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by Principal Software Engineer employees.
The highest salary for Principal Software Engineer is $348,913 per year, $29,076 per month or $168 per hour.
The lowest salary for Principal Software Engineer is $207,966 per year, $17,330 per month or $100 per hour.
The salary trajectory of Principal Software Engineer ranges between locations and employers. The salary starts at $153,691 per year (estimate) and goes up to $477,438 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 $98,283.86 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 $185,498.90 to $454,053.82. 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%.
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