Principal Software Engineer Salary in Boston, Massachusetts

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Principal Software Engineer Salary in Boston, MA

How much does a Principal Software Engineer make in Boston, MA?

As of April 01, 2025, the average annual salary for a Principal Software Engineer in Boston, MA is $146,025. Salary.com reports that pay typically ranges from $134,111 to $159,491, with most professionals earning between $123,263 and $171,750.

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Based on HR-reported data: a national average with a geographic differential
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Principal Software Engineer Salaries by Percentile
Percentile Salary Location Last Updated
10th Percentile Principal Software Engineer Salary $123,263 Boston,MA April 01, 2025
25th Percentile Principal Software Engineer Salary $134,111 Boston,MA April 01, 2025
50th Percentile Principal Software Engineer Salary $146,025 Boston,MA April 01, 2025
75th Percentile Principal Software Engineer Salary $159,491 Boston,MA April 01, 2025
90th Percentile Principal Software Engineer Salary $171,750 Boston,MA April 01, 2025
25% $134,111 10% $123,263 90% $171,750 75% $159,491 $146,025 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
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Principal Software Engineer

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Job Openings for Principal Software Engineer in Boston, MA

Career Path for this job

  1. Down a level:

    Software Engineer II

    2 - 4 years experience
    Bachelor's Degree

  2. This Job:

    Principal Software Engineer

    4 - 7 years experience
    Bachelor's Degree

  3. Up a level:

    Software Engineer IV

    7 + years experience
    Bachelor's Degree

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Understand the total compensation opportunity for a Principal Software Engineer, base salary plus other pay elements

Average Base Salary

Core compensation

 
 
 
134111
159491
146025

Average Total Cash Compensation

Includes base and annual incentives

 
 
 
134111
159491
146025
These charts show the average base salary (core compensation), as well as the average total cash compensation for the job of Principal Software Engineer in Boston, MA. The base salary for Principal Software Engineer ranges from $134,111 to $159,491 with the average base salary of $146,025. The total cash compensation, which includes base, and annual incentives, can vary anywhere from $134,111 to $159,491 with the average total cash compensation of $146,025.

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134111
159491

 

About Boston, Massachusetts    Boston has an area of 89.63 square miles (232.1 km2)—48.4 square miles (125.4 km2) (54%) of land and 41.2 square miles (106.7 km2) (46%) of water. The....More

Boston, Massachusetts  area prices were up 2.5% from a year ago

Principal Software Engineer Salary in popular cities: Worcester, Springfield, Lowell

Skills associated with Principal Software Engineer: Design, Planning, Software Development, BUILD ...More

Recently searched related titles: Application Software Engineer, Controls Software Engineer, Delivery Software Engineer

Learn more about: Compensation Packages, Employee Flight Risk, Gender Pay Gap, Job Openings for This Role

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