Principal salary in United States (Updated 2026)

The average salary for a Principal is $139,376 per year in the United States. This figure is based on 5.4k salaries taken from job postings on Indeed in the past 36 months, last updated on July 26, 2026.

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Principal salaries typically range between a low of $85,362 and a high of $227,568 per year, depending on experience, location, and the hiring company.

Some of the highest-paying cities for Principal include Claremont, CA at $184,730 per year, New York, NY at $182,002 per year, and Los Angeles, CA at $167,737 per year.

Based on recent job postings on Indeed, some of the top-paying companies for Principal include Canon Recruiting Group ($364,000 per year) and ASK Staffing ($364,000 per year).