Principal Software Engineer Salary Benchmarks

Comprehensive compensation data for Principal Software Engineers at SaaS companies. Based on real salary information from 300+ companies.

Average Base Salary

$159,099

Salaries Analyzed

Typical Range

$128,780–$205,000

SaaS salary benchmarks

SaaS compensation benchmarks

B2B SaaS pay benchmarks

Salary ranges (P25–P75)

Benchmarks are derived from an anonymized dataset.
Pay is annualized to make hourly/monthly and salaried compensation comparable.

Principal Software Engineer Salary Overview

$81,932

Bottom 25% Average

Early-stage startups

$166,520

Middle 50% Average

Growth companies

$214,474

Top 25% Average

Late-stage/public companies

Principal Software Engineers at SaaS companies earn an average of $159,099, with typical salaries ranging from $128,780 to $205,000. Based on 71 real salary data points from SaaS companies.

Detailed Principal Software Engineer Compensation Breakdown

Percentile Band	Average Base Salary	# of salaries
Top 25%	$214,474	19 salaries
Middle 50%	$166,520	35 salaries
Bottom 25%	$81,932	17 salaries

What Drives Higher Principal Software Engineer Pay?

Years of experience and proven track record
Company stage and funding (later stage typically pays more)
Technical expertise and specialization
Location and remote work policies

Principal Software Engineer Compensation Structure

Base salary is primary component
Equity grants common at growth-stage companies
Performance bonuses typically 10-20% of base
Benefits packages vary by company stage

Related Salary Benchmarks

Vice President of Engineering Salary Vice President of Product Salary Director of Engineering Salary Head of Product Salary Chief Marketing Officer Salary Chief Technology Officer Salary

← Back to All Salary Benchmarks

Ready to benchmark your own company?

Get personalized salary insights and funding options.

Compare your compensation structure with industry benchmarks and discover funding options tailored to your SaaS business. Use our startup compensation benchmarks and SaaS salary benchmarks to make data-driven decisions about your compensation packages and hiring strategy.

Explore Founderpath

Compare your compensation structure with similar SaaS companies at your stage, size, and geography. Use our startup compensation benchmarks and SaaS salary benchmarks to ensure competitive pay that aligns with market rates. Our benchmarking tools provide real-time compensation data to help you make informed decisions.

Salary benchmarks are industry-standard compensation data that help you understand market rates for specific roles. They matter because they ensure you offer competitive compensation packages that attract top talent while maintaining healthy cash flow. Our SaaS salary benchmarks include medians, quartiles, and typical ranges (P25–P75) for accurate comparisons.

Set competitive salaries that attract top talent while maintaining healthy cash flow and runway. Access real compensation data and benchmarking best practices to make informed decisions about your compensation packages. Use compensation benchmarks to determine the right salary range for each role.

Get personalized funding recommendations based on your company metrics and growth trajectory. Our compensation benchmarking tools help you understand how your salary structure impacts your funding options. Investors want to see that your compensation aligns with industry benchmarks.

Monitor cash flow, runway, and key metrics in one dashboard that updates automatically. Use compensation benchmarks to ensure your salary data supports sustainable growth. Benchmarking compensation helps you balance competitive pay with financial sustainability.

Generate professional reports and insights that investors want to see — no manual work required. Show how your compensation benchmarking aligns with industry standards and supports your growth strategy. Demonstrate that you use compensation data to make strategic hiring decisions.