Principal software engineer salary in San Francisco, CA

The average salary for a Principal Software Engineer is $235,336 per year in San Francisco, CA. This figure is based on 271 salaries taken from job postings on Indeed in the past 36 months, last updated on October 19, 2026.

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Principal Software Engineer salaries in San Francisco, CA typically range between a low of $161,222 and a high of $343,521 per year, depending on experience and the hiring company.

Some of the highest-paying cities for Principal Software Engineer in San Francisco, CA include San Mateo, CA at $318,909 per year, San Jose, CA at $235,394 per year, and Santa Clara, CA at $221,199 per year.

Based on recent job postings on Indeed, some of the top-paying companies for Principal Software Engineer in San Francisco, CA include Pinterest ($363,141 per year) and Hinge Health ($341,000 per year).

Compensation can vary based on the specific niche and level of responsibility within the field. Here is how the average Principal Software Engineer salary in San Francisco, CA compares to related positions:

• Entry Level Software Engineer: Average $108,377 per year
• Junior Software Engineer: Average $171,198 per year
• Senior Software Engineer: Average $199,859 per year
• Software Engineer: Average $186,263 per year
• Software Engineer Intern: Average $55.63 per hour
• Staff Software Engineer: Average $237,420 per year