Red Hat employees working as Principal Software Engineer in US have attributed a compensation and benefits rating of 3.4 out of 5 stars, based on 28 ratings. This is 13% lower than the average of Principal Software Engineer professionals at Red Hat worldwide.
The salary trajectory of a Principal Software Engineer ranges between locations and employers. The salary starts at $152,713 per year (estimate) and goes up to $473,325 per year (estimate) for the highest level of seniority.
The estimated average salary for a Principal Software Engineer at Red Hat is $286,187 per year or $138 per hour, but some professionals have reported earning up to roughly $454,365 per year (90th percentile). The typical pay range is between $227,641 (25th percentile) and $367,014 (75th percentile) annually. This is based on 168 salaries submitted by Red Hat Principal Software Engineer professionals on Glassdoor, as of Jun 2026.
Principal Software Engineer professionals typically earn between $109 and $176 per hour.
Principal Software Engineer professionals typically earn between $18,970 and $30,584 monthly.