Technology · Level IC5 · Salary
Principal Engineer salary
Typical total compensation (US national)
$540,000–$620,000
Base
$265,000
Bonus
$60,000
Equity (annual)
$250,000
Indicative, sourced — not a guarantee. Levels.fyi Senior Staff/Principal (L7+) median total ~$939k at Google (FAANG-skewed); KORE1 Principal Engineer Salary Guide 2026; national blend well below FAANG
Pay by metro — nominal vs cost-adjusted
“Real” adjusts for cost of living, so a high headline number in an expensive metro can be worth less in practice. Ranked by real pay.
| Metro | Nominal | Real (cost-adjusted) |
|---|---|---|
| Austin | $603,750 | $591,912 |
| Remote (US national) | $575,000 | $575,000 |
| Atlanta | $563,500 | $575,000 |
| Seattle | $678,500 | $565,417 |
| Chicago | $575,000 | $532,407 |
| Denver | $575,000 | $522,727 |
| Boston | $621,000 | $460,000 |
| New York City | $678,500 | $437,742 |
| Los Angeles | $621,000 | $428,276 |
| San Francisco Bay Area | $718,750 | $399,306 |