NVIDIA employees working as Principal Software Engineer in US have attributed a compensation and benefits rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars, based on 10 ratings. This is in line with the average of Principal Software Engineer professionals at NVIDIA worldwide.
The salary trajectory of a Principal Software Engineer ranges between locations and employers. The salary starts at $153,514 per year (estimate) and goes up to $476,721 per year (estimate) for the highest level of seniority.
The estimated average salary for a Principal Software Engineer at NVIDIA is $286,042 per year or $138 per hour, but some professionals have reported earning up to roughly $454,147 per year (90th percentile). The typical pay range is between $227,508 (25th percentile) and $366,828 (75th percentile) annually. This is based on 52 salaries submitted by NVIDIA Principal Software Engineer professionals on Glassdoor, as of Jul 2026.
Principal Software Engineer professionals typically earn between $109 and $176 per hour.
Principal Software Engineer professionals typically earn between $18,959 and $30,569 monthly.