Principal Engineer Salary in 2025

💰 The median Principal Engineer Salary in 2025 is USD 162,550

✏️ This salary info is based on 72 individual salaries reported during 2025

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Salary details

The average Principal Engineer salary lies between USD 113,500 and USD 203,000 globally. It represents the overall compensation/gross salary amount for the working year (before deductions like social security, taxes and other contributions), not including equity/stock options or similar benefits.

Job title
Principal Engineer
Experience
all levels
Region
global/worldwide
Salary year
2025
Sample size
72
Top 10%
$ 233,200
Top 25%
$ 203,000
Median
$ 162,550
Bottom 25%
$ 113,500
Bottom 10%
$ 101,000

All data shown are full-time equivalent (FTE) salaries. Part-time salary information has been extrapolated to its FTE value.

Last updated:

Salary trend

Top 20 Job Tags for Principal Engineer roles

The three most common job tag items assiciated with Principal Engineer job listings are Cloud, Computer Science and Python. Below you find a list of the 20 most occuring job tags in 2025 and the number of open jobs that where associated with them during that period:

Cloud | 66 jobs Computer Science | 47 jobs Python | 45 jobs Agile | 41 jobs Azure | 40 jobs Compliance | 40 jobs CISSP | 39 jobs AWS | 36 jobs Automation | 36 jobs Clearance | 33 jobs GCP | 29 jobs DoD | 27 jobs Linux | 26 jobs Kubernetes | 26 jobs Java | 25 jobs Monitoring | 25 jobs Scripting | 25 jobs DevOps | 23 jobs Security Clearance | 23 jobs Jira | 23 jobs

Top 20 Job Perks/Benefits for Principal Engineer roles

The three most common job benefits and perks assiciated with Principal Engineer job listings are Career development, Health care and Insurance. Below you find a list of the 20 most occuring job perks or benefits in 2025 and the number of open jobs that where offering them during that period:

Career development | 73 jobs Health care | 54 jobs Insurance | 42 jobs Salary bonus | 41 jobs Medical leave | 28 jobs Startup environment | 27 jobs Flex vacation | 25 jobs Flex hours | 22 jobs Transparency | 22 jobs Team events | 20 jobs Relocation support | 16 jobs Equity / stock options | 14 jobs Wellness | 12 jobs Competitive pay | 11 jobs 401(k) matching | 9 jobs Parental leave | 9 jobs Signing bonus | 4 jobs Fertility benefits | 2 jobs Gear | 1 jobs Fitness / gym | 1 jobs

Related salaries

Principal Engineer @ $ 162,550 (global) - Senior-level / Expert Details
Principal Engineer @ $ 162,550 (United States) Details
Principal Engineer @ $ 162,550 (United States) - Senior-level / Expert Details

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