Principal Engineer Salaries & Top Paying Companies in San Francisco, CA

Position

City

Salary

How much does a Principal Engineer make in San Francisco, CA?

The average salary for a Principal Engineer is $232,513 per year in San Francisco, CA.

Graph depicting the yearly salary distribution for Principal Engineer jobs in San Francisco, CA, showing an average salary of $232,513 with varying distribution percentages across salary ranges.

Graph depicting the monthly salary distribution for Principal Engineer jobs in San Francisco, CA, showing an average salary of $19,376 with varying distribution percentages across salary ranges.

Graph depicting the weekly salary distribution for Principal Engineer jobs in San Francisco, CA, showing an average salary of $4,471 with varying distribution percentages across salary ranges.

Graph depicting the hourly salary distribution for Principal Engineer jobs in San Francisco, CA, showing an average salary of $112 with varying distribution percentages across salary ranges.

A Principal Engineer in San Francisco, CA, earns a competitive salary. On average, they make about $232,513 per year. This salary can vary based on experience, skills, and the specific company. Many Principal Engineers in this area earn between $150,500 and $354,000 annually. This range reflects the high demand for skilled engineers in tech-heavy San Francisco.

Several factors influence the salary of a Principal Engineer. Experience plays a big role. Engineers with more years in the field often earn higher salaries. Skills in specific technologies or methodologies can also boost earnings. Companies in the tech industry, especially those in Silicon Valley, often offer higher salaries to attract top talent. This makes San Francisco an attractive place for Principal Engineers looking to advance their careers.

What are the highest paying cities for a Principal Engineer near San Francisco, CA?

Principal Engineer jobs in the San Francisco area offer competitive salaries. Cities like Menlo Park, Mountain View, and Redwood City lead with average salaries over $200,000. These locations provide excellent opportunities for experienced engineers.

Graph displaying highest paying cities salaries for Principal Engineer jobs near San Francisco, CA, highlighting Menlo Park, CA with the highest at $246,700 and Oakland, CA with the lowest at $181,425.

Menlo Park, CA
Average Salary: $246,700
In Menlo Park, engineers work in a tech-driven environment. Companies like Facebook and Google offer exciting projects. The tech scene is vibrant and full of opportunities.
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Mountain View, CA
Average Salary: $239,691
Mountain View is home to tech giants like Google. Engineers here enjoy cutting-edge projects. The city offers a dynamic work atmosphere and many networking chances.
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Redwood City, CA
Average Salary: $237,000
Redwood City has a strong tech presence with companies like Oracle and Tesla. Engineers here work on innovative projects. The city provides a balanced work-life environment.
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Sunnyvale, CA
Average Salary: $224,239
Sunnyvale is a hub for tech innovation. Companies like eBay and VMware offer exciting roles. Engineers here work on impactful projects and enjoy a lively community.
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San Mateo, CA
Average Salary: $221,163
San Mateo is known for its tech companies like Dropbox and Gluon. Engineers here work on diverse projects. The city offers a great quality of life and a supportive work culture.
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San Jose, CA
Average Salary: $220,232
San Jose is a major tech center with companies like Intel and Cisco. Engineers here tackle challenging projects. The city has a rich tech history and a growing community.
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Santa Clara, CA
Average Salary: $219,963
Santa Clara is home to tech leaders like Apple and Tesla. Engineers here work on groundbreaking projects. The city offers a vibrant tech scene and many career opportunities.
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Palo Alto, CA
Average Salary: $218,873
Palo Alto is a tech hub with companies like Hewlett Packard Enterprise. Engineers here work on innovative projects. The city offers a dynamic work environment and a high standard of living.
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Fremont, CA
Average Salary: $184,812
Fremont has a growing tech sector with companies like Flex and TE Connectivity. Engineers here work on diverse projects. The city offers a balanced lifestyle and many opportunities.
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Oakland, CA
Average Salary: $181,425
Oakland is a diverse tech hub with companies like Salesforce and LinkedIn. Engineers here work on impactful projects. The city offers a rich cultural scene and a growing tech community.
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What are the best paying companies for a Principal Engineer in San Francisco, CA?

Job seekers in San Francisco looking for top-paying Principal Engineer roles should consider companies like Google, Quizlet, and DigitalOcean. These companies offer competitive salaries, with Google leading at $354,000. Quizlet and DigitalOcean follow closely, providing average salaries of $280,000 and $258,000, respectively. Other notable companies include DocuSign, Atlassian, and Salesforce, all offering salaries above $250,000. These firms provide excellent opportunities for experienced engineers seeking high compensation.

Graph displaying best paying company salaries for Principal Engineer jobs in San Francisco, CA, highlighting Google with the highest at $354,000 and City and County of San Francisco with the lowest at $185,428.

Google
Average Salary: $354,000
Google offers Principal Engineer roles with a focus on innovation and technology. The company operates globally, with major offices in San Francisco, CA, and other locations worldwide.
Quizlet
Average Salary: $280,000
Quizlet provides Principal Engineer positions that emphasize creating educational tools. The company is based in San Francisco, CA, and serves a global audience.
DigitalOcean
Average Salary: $258,000
DigitalOcean offers Principal Engineer roles focused on cloud computing. The company's headquarters are in San Francisco, CA, and it serves clients around the world.
DocuSign
Average Salary: $255,271
DocuSign provides Principal Engineer positions that focus on electronic signatures and document management. The company operates in San Francisco, CA, and has a global presence.
Atlassian
Average Salary: $253,125
Atlassian offers Principal Engineer roles that focus on software development and collaboration tools. The company is headquartered in San Francisco, CA, and serves customers worldwide.
Salesforce
Average Salary: $234,510
Salesforce provides Principal Engineer positions that focus on customer relationship management. The company operates in San Francisco, CA, and has a global footprint.
Wells Fargo
Average Salary: $223,833
Wells Fargo offers Principal Engineer roles that focus on financial services technology. The company is headquartered in San Francisco, CA, and serves clients across the United States.
Autodesk
Average Salary: $191,444
Autodesk offers Principal Engineer roles that focus on design and engineering software. The company is based in San Francisco, CA, and has a global presence.
Palo Alto Networks
Average Salary: $189,883
Palo Alto Networks provides Principal Engineer positions that focus on cybersecurity. The company is headquartered in San Francisco, CA, and serves clients worldwide.
City and County of San Francisco
Average Salary: $185,428
The City and County of San Francisco offers Principal Engineer roles that focus on public services and infrastructure. The company operates within San Francisco, CA.

What are the best paying Principal Engineer related jobs in San Francisco, CA?

Principal Engineer roles in San Francisco, CA, often lead to high-paying positions. Directors of Engineering and Staff Engineers top the list, with average salaries around $229,000 and $213,000, respectively. Other roles like Machine Learning Engineer and Technical Architect also offer competitive pay, making them attractive to skilled professionals.

Graph displaying best paying related job salaries for Principal Engineer jobs near San Francisco, CA, highlighting Director of Engineering with the highest at $229,180 and Cloud Engineer with the lowest at $158,486.

Director of Engineering
Average Salary: $229,180
This role leads engineering teams and sets technical direction. It involves collaborating with other departments to ensure project goals are met. Companies like Google and Salesforce in San Francisco often seek such leaders.
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Staff Engineer
Average Salary: $213,455
Staff engineers focus on complex technical challenges. They mentor junior engineers and contribute to long-term strategy. At firms like Uber and LinkedIn, staff engineers play a key role in innovation.
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Research Manager
Average Salary: $211,285
Research managers oversee studies and projects. They analyze data to guide business decisions. In San Francisco, companies like Apple and Tesla value strong research managers.
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Machine Learning Engineer
Average Salary: $208,858
These engineers build and refine models. They work on projects that improve automation and user experience. Firms like Airbnb and Dropbox hire machine learning experts in the area.
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Technical Architect
Average Salary: $193,118
Technical architects design system infrastructure. They ensure systems are scalable and efficient. At companies like Slack and GitHub, technical architects are crucial for system design.
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Safety Director
Average Salary: $189,782
Safety directors ensure compliance with safety regulations. They develop safety programs and conduct risk assessments. In San Francisco, companies like Uber and Lyft focus on safety leadership.
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Data Engineer
Average Salary: $183,366
Data engineers build and maintain data systems. They ensure data is accessible and reliable. At firms like Pinterest and Stripe, data engineers are vital for data management.
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Solutions Architect
Average Salary: $176,117
Solutions architects design system solutions. They work with clients to understand needs and create technical plans. Companies like Oracle and IBM in San Francisco seek skilled solutions architects.
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DevOps Engineer
Average Salary: $163,720
DevOps engineers automate and integrate processes. They work to improve collaboration between development and operations. At firms like Slack and GitHub, DevOps engineers are key to efficiency.
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Cloud Engineer
Average Salary: $158,486
Cloud engineers manage cloud infrastructure. They ensure systems are secure and perform well. Companies like Salesforce and Dropbox in San Francisco hire cloud engineers for their expertise.
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Principal Engineer Salary in San Francisco, CA

How much does a Principal Engineer make in San Francisco, CA?

What are the highest paying cities for a Principal Engineer near San Francisco, CA?

What are the best paying companies for a Principal Engineer in San Francisco, CA?

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