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Principal developer salary
Average principal developer salary
$126,772
The role of a Principal Developer is vital in the tech industry, blending deep technical knowledge with project leadership. As of October 2025, the average salary stands at $126,772 per year, translating to approximately $61 per hour. Salaries vary based on factors such as geographical location, industry, and years of experience.
For instance, California and New York are among the highest-paying states for this position, reflecting the demand for skilled developers in these tech hubs. Industries like software development and information technology typically offer higher compensation. In addition to salary, Principal Developers often enjoy benefits like bonuses, stock options, and flexible working arrangements, which enhance overall job satisfaction.
To maximize your earning potential, consider roles in high-demand sectors and focus on continuous skill development. Networking and staying updated on industry trends can also lead to better job opportunities. Explore the job listings on Zippia to find positions that align with your expertise and career goals.
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Where can a Principal Developer earn more?
Principal developer salary estimates from across the web
Average principal developer salary by state
The highest-paying states for principal developers are Washington, California, and Oregon. The lowest average principal developer salary states are North Dakota, Nebraska, and Wisconsin.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for principal developers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $150,945 | $72.57 |
| 2 | Idaho | $143,797 | $69.13 |
| 3 | Nevada | $144,290 | $69.37 |
| 4 | Washington | $174,151 | $83.73 |
| 5 | California | $166,002 | $79.81 |
| 6 | Utah | $129,375 | $62.20 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $128,993 | $62.02 |
| 8 | Montana | $120,736 | $58.05 |
| 9 | Arizona | $121,168 | $58.25 |
| 10 | Wyoming | $120,756 | $58.06 |
| 11 | Texas | $118,834 | $57.13 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | $115,681 | $55.62 |
| 13 | Vermont | $117,214 | $56.35 |
| 14 | New Mexico | $117,600 | $56.54 |
| 15 | Alaska | $134,610 | $64.72 |
| 16 | North Carolina | $113,878 | $54.75 |
| 17 | New York | $124,213 | $59.72 |
| 18 | Mississippi | $119,500 | $57.45 |
| 19 | Rhode Island | $108,774 | $52.30 |
| 20 | Massachusetts | $118,655 | $57.05 |
| 21 | Virginia | $112,538 | $54.10 |
| 22 | West Virginia | $113,269 | $54.46 |
| 23 | Hawaii | $134,224 | $64.53 |
| 24 | New Hampshire | $108,988 | $52.40 |
| 25 | Colorado | $113,377 | $54.51 |
| 26 | Arkansas | $108,841 | $52.33 |
| 27 | Illinois | $110,204 | $52.98 |
| 28 | Minnesota | $108,971 | $52.39 |
| 29 | Georgia | $109,320 | $52.56 |
| 30 | Delaware | $111,626 | $53.67 |
| 31 | Florida | $108,932 | $52.37 |
| 32 | Maryland | $106,751 | $51.32 |
| 33 | Michigan | $106,475 | $51.19 |
| 34 | District of Columbia | $102,005 | $49.04 |
| 35 | Oklahoma | $108,019 | $51.93 |
| 36 | Ohio | $101,239 | $48.67 |
| 37 | Iowa | $106,420 | $51.16 |
| 38 | Louisiana | $107,262 | $51.57 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $104,517 | $50.25 |
| 40 | Kentucky | $102,653 | $49.35 |
| 41 | South Dakota | $101,054 | $48.58 |
| 42 | Connecticut | $102,860 | $49.45 |
| 43 | Maine | $103,417 | $49.72 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $98,879 | $47.54 |
| 45 | Indiana | $100,925 | $48.52 |
| 46 | Missouri | $102,827 | $49.44 |
| 47 | North Dakota | $99,501 | $47.84 |
| 48 | Wisconsin | $98,520 | $47.37 |
| 49 | Kansas | $96,404 | $46.35 |
| 50 | Alabama | $97,636 | $46.94 |
| 51 | South Carolina | $97,964 | $47.10 |
Highest paying cities for principal developers
The highest-paying cities for principal developers are San Francisco, CA, Seattle, WA, and Jersey City, NJ.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $177,267 | $85.22 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $177,011 | $85.10 |
| 3 | Jersey City, NJ | $129,240 | $62.13 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $124,327 | $59.77 |
| 5 | Phoenix, AZ | $121,619 | $58.47 |
| 6 | Austin, TX | $119,323 | $57.37 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $118,691 | $57.06 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $116,033 | $55.79 |
| 9 | Raleigh, NC | $114,531 | $55.06 |
| 10 | Englewood, CO | $113,410 | $54.52 |
| 11 | Sterling, VA | $112,860 | $54.26 |
| 12 | Chicago, IL | $110,313 | $53.04 |
| 13 | Atlanta, GA | $109,114 | $52.46 |
| 14 | Orlando, FL | $109,111 | $52.46 |
| 15 | Merrimack, NH | $109,029 | $52.42 |
| 16 | Baton Rouge, LA | $107,562 | $51.71 |
| 17 | Columbia, MD | $106,790 | $51.34 |
| 18 | Washington, DC | $101,982 | $49.03 |
| 19 | Columbus, OH | $100,608 | $48.37 |
| 20 | Columbia, SC | $97,930 | $47.08 |
Principal developer salary details
A principal developer's salary ranges from $96,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $166,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a principal developer's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $166,000 | $13,833 | $80 |
| 75th Percentile | $146,000 | $12,167 | $70 |
| Average | $126,772 | $10,564 | $61 |
| 25th Percentile | $109,000 | $9,083 | $52 |
| 10th Percentile | $96,000 | $8,000 | $46 |
Highest paying principal developer jobs
The highest paying types of principal developers are principal software engineer, senior/lead developer, and lead developer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Developer/Consultant | $98,508 | $8,209 | $47.36 | 257,985 |
| Developer Analyst | $85,279 | $7,107 | $41.00 | 219,524 |
| Lead Software Developer | $115,072 | $9,589 | $55.32 | 309,029 |
| Team Lead And Developer | $85,824 | $7,152 | $41.26 | 350,426 |
| Systems Developer | $97,230 | $8,102 | $46.75 | 322,419 |
| Applications Developer | $89,205 | $7,434 | $42.89 | 279,877 |
Top companies hiring principal developers now:
Which companies pay principal developers the most?
Principal developer salaries at Google and Atlassian are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average principal developer salary at companies like LinkedIn and Microsoft are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $206,012 | $99.04 | |
| 2 | Atlassian | $175,211 | $84.24 |
| 3 | $175,200 | $84.23 | |
| 4 | Microsoft | $174,684 | $83.98 |
| 5 | ICE Mortgage Technology | $171,007 | $82.21 |
| 6 | World Fuel Services | $165,915 | $79.77 |
| 7 | Mayo Clinic | $165,596 | $79.61 |
| 8 | Palo Alto Networks | $162,534 | $78.14 |
| 9 | Citi | $162,027 | $77.90 |
| 10 | Adobe | $160,823 | $77.32 |
| 11 | ZS | $160,041 | $76.94 |
| 12 | Social Tables | $158,578 | $76.24 |
| 13 | Fortinet | $156,788 | $75.38 |
| 14 | Hulu | $155,024 | $74.53 |
| 15 | BNY Mellon | $154,780 | $74.41 |
| 16 | Vista Equity Partners | $154,062 | $74.07 |
| 17 | Amazon | $151,878 | $73.02 |
| 18 | OCC | $151,122 | $72.65 |
| 19 | Informatica | $150,800 | $72.50 |
| 20 | Genentech | $150,660 | $72.43 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Principal Developer salary by industry
The average principal developer salary varies across industries:
- The average principal developer salary in the finance industry is $138,947, the highest of any industry.
- The average principal developer salary in the finance industry is $134,518.
- Principal developers in the automotive industry earn an average salary of $117,278, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for principal developers
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Finance | $138,947 | $66.80 |
| 2 | Technology | $134,518 | $64.67 |
| 3 | Pharmaceutical | $128,415 | $61.74 |
| 4 | Hospitality | $125,558 | $60.36 |
| 5 | Health Care | $121,322 | $58.33 |
| 6 | Manufacturing | $118,916 | $57.17 |
| 7 | Automotive | $117,278 | $56.38 |
High paying principal developer jobs
Principal developer salary trends
The average principal developer salary has risen by $23,535 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average principal developer earned $103,237 annually, but today, they earn $126,772 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for principal developers over the last decade.
Compare principal developer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average principal developer salary over time
Compare principal developer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Principal developer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $127,000 | $60.95 | +3.3% |
| 2024 | $123,000 | $58.94 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | $120,000 | $57.61 | +1.8% |
| 2022 | $118,000 | $56.59 | +1.7% |
| 2021 | $116,000 | $55.64 | +1.8% |
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