WD employees working as Principal Design Engineer in US have attributed a compensation and benefits rating of 3 out of 5 stars, based on 1 ratings. This is 40% lower than the average of Principal Design Engineer professionals at WD worldwide.
The salary trajectory of a Principal Design Engineer ranges between locations and employers. The salary starts at $123,852 per year (estimate) and goes up to $245,449 per year (estimate) for the highest level of seniority.
The estimated average salary for a Principal Design Engineer at WD is $223,061 per year or $107 per hour, but some professionals have reported earning up to roughly $340,719 per year (90th percentile). The typical pay range is between $180,386 (25th percentile) and $279,718 (75th percentile) annually. This is based on 419 salaries submitted by WD Principal Design Engineer professionals on Glassdoor, as of Jul 2026.
Principal Design Engineer professionals typically earn between $87 and $134 per hour.
Principal Design Engineer professionals typically earn between $15,032 and $23,310 monthly.