100 Best Companies to Work for a Principal Software Engineer by Total Comp

A survey report shows that 56% of Principal Software Engineers prefer working at a public company. While 42% of Principal Software Engineers reflect their interest in private companies, the rare 2% work at educational institutions.

Keeping in view your job preference, we have formed a list of the 100 best companies to work for a Principal Software Engineer by total comp. In this list, you will find the company type, CEO name, headquarters location, global headcount, total compensation and its breakup, Blind rating, designation, and level of every company. So, you can select and apply to one of your preferred companies.

Let’s get started with the list of the best places to work by total comp.

Methodology

The “100 best companies to work for a Principal Software Engineer” list determines the finest corporations to work for at the position of a Principal Software Engineer by total compensation.

To craft this list, our experts first sorted out companies from the publicly traded top 500 highest market cap US-based tech companies ranked at marketcap.com. Note that the focus was only on tech companies headquartered in the USA. A few exceptions are some healthcare companies with tech-heavy investments, though. ByteDance, Atlassian, and Shopify have been added as exceptions in honorable mentions as they aren’t headquartered in the USA.

After finalizing the list of good companies to work for in the USA per the above criteria, we collected Principal Software Engineer salaries from Glassdoor.com and Levels.fyi. Years of experience chosen for this purpose were 13-20 years. Although we considered it a standard experience for the designation, years of experience may vary from company to company and person to person.

We kept Google’s levels L6 and L7 and Microsoft’s levels 66 and 67 as standard to enlist the designation of Principal Software Engineers from other companies. Since Microsoft pioneered software as a business, it has a very well-defined career track for software engineers. Principal designation at Microsoft spans levels 65, 66, and 67 – but for this list, we focused on L66 and 67.

The data is current as of 09-March-2023. We have also drafted lists for junior software engineers, mid-level software engineers, and senior software engineers.

An important thing to note is that across different companies, the designation “Principal Software Engineer” refers to varying levels of experience and expectations. For example, Microsoft’s Principal Software Engineer matches the Senior Staff of VMWare and Tesla but is equivalent to Architect at Palo Alto Networks. Therefore, the list mentions the equivalent level/designation for Microsoft’s Principal Software Engineer at L66/67 and Google’s Principal Software Engineer at L6/L7.

Another quirk in this effort is that some companies have very broad pay bands, covering a vast range of experience. For example, Apple’s E5 is a very broad pay band. For these cases, we simply went with levels.fyi’s weighted average compensation numbers.

For scenarios where pay bands overlap with our benchmark of Microsoft L66/67 and Google L6/L7, we choose the higher pay band as long as it overlaps with L66/67 of Microsoft and Google L6/L7.

Another point to note is that since the source of data is the self-reported data on Levels.fyi and Glassdoor.com over a period of time, it may not fully reflect the realities of the current market correction. However, the authors believe that the list still gives a fairly accurate representation of the relative comp levels from various companies for the mentioned designation and experience levels.

While the list mentions the names of the companies, some companies have been acquired but still maintain an independent identity and payscale from their parent companies. For the purposes of this list, we have kept LinkedIn, Tinder, and VMWare as separate entities.

Besides the top 100 tech companies by total comp, we also added 10 honorable mentions for firms that are well-known but did not make the cut for the top 100 companies to work for. Let us know if you would like a company to be added to the mix.

100 Best Companies to Work for a Principal Software Engineer by Total Comp

1. LinkedIn

Founded: 2002

Company Type: Public

CEO: Ryan Roslansky

Global Headcount:  10000+

Headquarters: Sunnyvale, CA, United States

Industry: Internet & Web Services

Designation: Principal Staff Software Engineer (Level – L7)

Per Annum Total Compensation: $984,750

  • Base: $317,000
  • Stock: $597,500
  • Bonus: $70,250

Blind Rating:  4.2

2. Facebook

Founded:  2004

Company Type: Public

CEO: Mark Zuckerberg

Global Headcount:  10000+

Headquarters: Menlo Park, CA, US

Industry: Internet & Web Services

Designation: Staff Software Engineer (Level – E7)

Per Annum Total Compensation:  $960,006

  • Base: $306,906
  • Stock: $607,500
  • Bonus: $45,600

Blind Rating: 4.0

3.Dropbox

Founded:  2007

Company Type: Public

CEO: Drew Houston

Global Headcount:  1001 to 5000

Headquarters: San Francisco, CA, US

Industry: Computer Hardware Development

Designation: Principal Engineer (Level – IC6)

Per Annum Total Compensation:  $937,000

  • Base: $246,557
  • Stock: $309,410
  • Bonus: $63,525

Blind Rating:  3.7

4. Uber

Founded:2009

Company Type: Public

CEO: Dara Khosrowshahi

Global Headcount:  10000+

Headquarters: San Francisco, CA

Industry: Internet & Web Services

Designation: Senior Staff Software Engineer (Level – 6)

Per Annum Total Compensation:  $868,434

  • Base: $268,688
  • Stock: $541,813
  • Bonus: $57,933

Blind Rating: 3.7

5. Lyft

Founded: 2012

Company Type: Public

CEO: Logan Green

Global Headcount:  5001 to 10000

Headquarters: San Francisco, California, United States

Industry: Computer Hardware Development

Designation: Senior Staff Engineer (Level – T7)

Per Annum Total Compensation:  $847,500

  • Base: $243,667
  • Stock: $603,000
  • Bonus: $833

Blind Rating: 3.7

6. Coinbase

Founded: 2012

Company Type: Public

CEO: Brian Armstrong

Global Headcount: 10000+

Headquarters: San Francisco, CA, US

Industry: Internet & Web Services

Designation: Senior Staff Software Engineer (Level – IC7)

Per Annum Total Compensation:  $811,494

  • Base: $261,256
  • Stock:$522,889
  • Bonus:$27,349

Blind Rating: 3.8

7. Splunk

Founded: 2003

Company Type: Public

CEO: Gary Steele

Global Headcount:  5001 to 10000

Headquarters: San Francisco, CA, US

Industry: Enterprise Software & Network Solutions

Designation: Senior Principal SWE (Level – P6)

Per Annum Total Compensation:  $788,584

  • Base: $279,667
  • Stock: $441,667
  • Bonus: $67,250

Blind Rating: 3.7

8. Instacart

Founded: 2012

Company Type: Private

CEO: Fidji Simo

Global Headcount:  1001 to 5000

Headquarters: San Francisco, California, United States

Industry: Internet & Web Services

Designation: Senior Staff Engineer (Level – L8)

Per Annum Total Compensation:  $725,000

  • Base: $225,000
  • Stock: $500,000
  • Bonus: $0

Blind Rating: 3.8

9. Netflix

Founded:  1997

Company Type: Public

CEO: Ted Sarandos and Reed Hastings

Global Headcount:  11,300

Headquarters: Los Gatos, CA, United States

Industry: Internet & Web Services

Designation: Staff Engineer (Level – E6)

Per Annum Total Compensation:  $711,923

  • Base: $711,923
  • Stock: $0
  • Bonus: $0

Blind Rating: 4.2

10. Twitter

Founded:  2006

Company Type: Public

CEO:  Parag Agrawal

Global Headcount: 7,500

Headquarters : San Francisco, California, United States

Industry: Internet & Web Services

Designation: Senior Staff SWE

Per Annum Total Compensation:  $700,900

  • Base: $271,700
  • Stock: $379,000
  • Bonus: $50,200

Blind Rating: 3.9

11. Stripe

Founded:  2010

Company Type: Private

CEO: Patrick Collison

Global Headcount: 1001 to 5000

Headquarters : South San Francisco, California, United States

Industry: Internet & web services

Designation: Staff Engineer (Level – L4)

Per Annum Total Compensation:  $700,618

  • Base: $266,156
  • Stock: $386,078
  • Bonus: $48,384

Blind Rating:  3.8

12. Databricks

Founded: 2013

Company Type: Public

CEO: Ali Ghodsi

Global Headcount: 1001 to 5000

Headquarters: San Francisco, CA, United States

Industry: Computer Hardware Development

Designation: Senior Staff Engineer (Level – L7)

Per Annum Total Compensation: $700,000

  • Base: $200,000
  • Stock: $450,000
  • Bonus: $50,000

Blind Rating: 4.1

13. Snapchat

Founded: 2011

Company Type: Public

CEO: Evan Spiegel

Global Headcount: 6,446

Headquarters: Santa Monica, CA, US

Industry: Software Development

Designation: (Level – L6)

Per Annum Total Compensation:  $679,481

  • Base: $272,077
  • Stock: $378,692
  • Bonus: $28,712

Blind Rating: 4.1

14. Airbnb

Founded: 2008

Company Type: Public

CEO: Brian Chesky

Global Headcount:  5001 to 10000

Headquarters: San Francisco, CA, US

Industry: Internet & Web Services

Designation: Senior Staff Software Engineer (Level – G11)

Per Annum Total Compensation: $656,140

  • Base: $266,800
  • Stock: $333,000
  • Bonus: $56,340

Blind Rating: 3.7

15. Datadog

Founded:  2010

Company Type:Public

CEO: Olivier Pomel

Global Headcount: 

Headquarters: New York, NY

Industry: Enterprise Software & Network Solutions

Designation : Staff Software Engineer

Per Annum Total Compensation:  $650,000

  • Base: $250,000
  • Stock: $400,000
  • Bonus: $0

Blind Rating: 4.1

16. Oracle

Founded:  1977

Company Type: Public

CEO:  Larry Ellison

Global Headcount: 10000+

Headquarters: Austin, Texas, US

Industry: Enterprise Software & Network Solutions

Designation: Principal MTS (Level – IC-4)

Per Annum Total Compensation:  $649,600

  • Base: $261,867
  • Stock: $375,000
  • Bonus: $12,733

Blind Rating: 3.3

17. Pinterest

Founded:  2010

Company Type: Public

CEO:  Bill Ready

Global Headcount: 1001 to 5000

Headquarters: San Francisco, CA, US

Industry: Internet & Web Services

Designation:(Level – L6)

Per Annum Total Compensation:  $631,520

  • Base: $255,683
  • Stock: $365,420
  • Bonus: $10,417

Blind Rating: 3.9

18. Roblox

Founded: 2004

Company Type: Public

CEO: David Baszucki

Global Headcount:  1001 to 5000

Headquarters: San Mateo, California, United States

Industry: Internet & web services

Designation: Principal Software Engineer (Level – IC5)

Per Annum Total Compensation: $625,094

  • Base: $308,750
  • Stock: $316,344
  • Bonus: $0

Blind Rating: 4.2

19. Google

Founded: 1998

Company Type: Public

CEO: Sundar Pichai

Global Headcount: 10000+

Headquarters: Mountain View, CA, US

Industry:  Internet & Web Services

Designation: Staff SWE (Level – L6)

Per Annum Total Compensation: $623,369

  • Base: $279,900
  • Stock: $262,500
  • Bonus: $80,969

Blind Rating: 4.3

20. Square Inc.

Founded: 2009

Company Type: Subsidiary or Business Segment

CEO: Jack Dorsey

Global Headcount: N/A

Headquarters: San Francisco, CA

Industry: Internet & Web Services

Designation: (Level 7)

Per Annum Total Compensation: $614,974

  • Base: $254,578
  • Stock: $355,257
  • Bonus: $5,139

Blind Rating: 4.2

21. Amazon

Founded: 1994

Company Type: Public

CEO: Andy Jassy

Global Headcount: 10000+

Headquarters: Seattle, WA

Industry: Internet & Web Services

Designation: Principal SDE (Level – L7)

Per Annum Total Compensation: $605,992

  • Base: $242,003
  • Stock: $323,407
  • Bonus: $40,582

Blind Rating: 3.1

22. Workday Inc.

Founded:  2005

Company Type : Public

CEO: Aneel Bhusri

Global Headcount: 10000+

Headquarters: Pleasanton, CA

Industry: Enterprise Software & Network Solutions

Designation: Senior Principal SWE (Level – P6)

Per Annum Total Compensation: $588,700

  • Base: $241,125
  • Stock: $334,375
  • Bonus: $13,200

Blind Rating: 4.0

23. Snowflake Inc.

Founded:  2012

Company Type: Public

CEO: Frank Slootman

Global Headcount:  1001 to 5000

Headquarters: Bozeman, MT

Industry: Enterprise Software & Network Solutions

Designation: Senior Software Engineer II (Level – IC4)

Per Annum Total Compensation:  $574,137

  • Base: $249,273
  • Stock: $290,955
  • Bonus: $33,909

Blind Rating: 4.3

24. VMWare

Founded:  1998

Company Type: Public

CEO: Rangarajan Raghuram

Global Headcount:  10000+

Headquarters: Palo Alto, CA

Industry: Enterprise Software & Network Solutions

Designation: Senior Staff Engineer

Per Annum Total Compensation:  $565,819

  • Base: $282,273
  • Stock: $220,455
  • Bonus: $63,091

Blind Rating: 3.7

25. MongoDB, Inc

Founded:  2007

Company Type: Public

CEO: Dev Ittycheria

Global Headcount:  1001 to 5000

Headquarters: New York, NY

Industry: Enterprise Software & Network Solutions

Designation: Staff Software Engineer

Per Annum Total Compensation:  $561,250

  • Base: $226,250
  • Stock: $335,000
  • Bonus: $0

Blind Rating: 4.3

26. Asana

Founded: 2008

Company Type: Public

CEO: Dustin Moskovitz

Global Headcount: 1001 to 5000

Headquarters: San Francisco, CA

Industry: Enterprise Software & Network Solutions

Designation: (Level – L6)

Per Annum Total Compensation:  $540,000

  • Base: $262,000
  • Stock: $278,000
  • Bonus: $0

Blind Rating: 4.4

27. Broadcom

Founded:  1991

Company Type: Public

CEO: Hock E. Tan

Global Headcount:  10000+

Headquarters: San Jose, CA

Industry: Electronics Manufacturing

Designation: Distinguished Engineer (Level – ICB 7)

Per Annum Total Compensation: $538,800

  • Base: $208,000
  • Stock: $250,000
  • Bonus: $80,800

Blind Rating: 3.1

28. Intel

Founded:  1968

Company Type: Public

CEO: Patrick P. Gelsinger

Global Headcount: 10000+

Headquarters: Santa Clara, CA

Industry: Computer Hardware Development

Designation: Principal Engineer (Level – Grade 11)

Per Annum Total Compensation:  $538,750

  • Base: $280,000
  • Stock: $139,500
  • Bonus: $119,250

Blind Rating: 3.5

29. Microsoft

Founded: 1975

Company Type: Public

CEO: Satya Narayana Nadella

Global Headcount:  10000+

Headquarters: Redmond, WA

Industry: Computer Hardware Development

Designation: Principal Engineer (Level – 67)

Per Annum Total Compensation:  $535,440

  • Base: $249,996
  • Stock: $208,012
  • Bonus: $77,432

Blind Rating: 4.1

30. DoorDash

Founded:  2013

Company Type: Public

CEO: Tony Xu

Global Headcount: 10000+

Headquarters: San Francisco, CA, US

Industry: Information Technology Support Services

Designation: (Level – E6)

Per Annum Total Compensation:  $532,233

  • Base: $235,083
  • Stock: $296,733
  • Bonus: $417

Blind Rating: 3.5

31. Pure Storage

Founded:  2009

Company Type: Public

CEO: Charles H. Giancarlo

Global Headcount:  1001 to 5000

Headquarters: Mountain View, CA

Industry: Information Technology Support Services

Designation: Principal Software Engineer (Level – MTS5)

Per Annum Total Compensation: $525,000

  • Base: $250,000
  • Stock: $225,000
  • Bonus: $50,000

Blind Rating: 3.9

32. Tesla Inc.

Founded: 2003

Company Type: Public

CEO: Elon Musk

Global Headcount:  10000+

Headquarters:  Austin, CA

Industry: Transportation Equipment Manufacturing

Designation: Senior Staff Engineer (Level – P5)

Per Annum Total Compensation: $515,800

  • Base: $217,000
  • Stock: $298,800
  • Bonus: $0

Blind Rating: 3.4

33. PayPal

Founded:  1998

Company Type: Public

CEO: Dan Schulman

Global Headcount: 10000+

Headquarters: San Jose, CA

Industry: Internet & Web Services

Designation: Principal Software Engineer (Level – T28)

Per Annum Total Compensation:  $513,000

  • Base: $221,000
  • Stock: $238,000
  • Bonus: $54,000

Blind Rating: 3.6

34. AMD

Founded: 1969

Company Type: Public

CEO: Lisa Su

Global Headcount: 5001 to 10000

Headquarters: Santa Clara, CA

Industry: Computer Hardware Development

Designation: Fellow (Level – L10)

Per Annum Total Compensation: $510,000

  • Base: $270,000
  • Stock: $100,000
  • Bonus: $140,000

Blind Rating: 3.9

35. Box

Founded:  2005

Company Type: Public

CEO:  Aaron Levie

Global Headcount:  1001 to 5000

Headquarters: Redwood, California, United States

Industry: Computer Hardware Development

Designation: Senior Staff Software Engineer (Level – L9)

Per Annum Total Compensation:  $510,000

  • Base: $270,000
  • Stock: $200,000
  • Bonus: $40,000

Blind Rating: 3.9

36. CrowdStrike

Founded:  2011

Company Type: Public

CEO: George Kurtz

Global Headcount:  1001 to 5000

Headquarters: Austin,TX, US

Industry: Enterprise Software & Network Solutions

Designation: Principal Software Engineer

Per Annum Total Compensation: $500,000

  • Base: $200,000
  • Stock: $270,000
  • Bonus: $30,000

Blind Rating: 4.1

37. NVidia

Founded: 1993

Company Type: Public

CEO:  Jensen Huang

Global Headcount: 10000+

Headquarters: Santa Clara, CA

Industry: Computer Hardware Development

Designation: Principal Engineer (Level – IC6)

Per Annum Total Compensation: $493,500

  • Base: $284,143
  • Stock: $205,714
  • Bonus: $3,643

Blind Rating: 4.4

38. Indeed

Founded:  2007

Company Type: Private

CEO: Chris Hyams

Global Headcount: 10000+

Headquarters: Austin, TX

Industry: Internet & Web Services

Designation: Principal Software Engineer (Level – L4)

Per Annum Total Compensation:  $476,000

  • Base: $254,000
  • Stock: $189,200
  • Bonus: $32,800

Blind Rating: 4.0

39. Apple Inc.

Founded: 1976

Company Type: Public

CEO: Tim Cook

Global Headcount: 10000+

Headquarters: Cupertino, CA

Industry: Computer Hardware Development

Designation: (Level – ICT5)

Per Annum Total Compensation:  $457,125

  • Base: $234,000
  • Stock: $191,889
  • Bonus: $31,236

Blind Rating: 4.0

40. Cisco Systems

Founded:  1984

Company Type: Public

CEO: Chuck Robbins

Global Headcount: 10000+

Headquarters: San Jose, CA

Industry: Enterprise Software & Network Solution

Designation: Principal Engineer (Level – Grade 13)

Per Annum Total Compensation: $453,000

  • Base: $246,000
  • Stock: $132,857
  • Bonus: $74,143

Blind Rating: 3.7

41. Adobe

Founded: 1982

Company Type: Public

CEO:  Shantanu Narayen

Global Headcount: 10000+

Headquarters: San Jose, CA

Industry: Computer Hardware Development

Designation: Principal Scientist

Per Annum Total Compensation: $451,000

  • Base: $270,000
  • Stock: $100,000
  • Bonus: $81,000

Blind Rating: 4.1

42. Palo Alto Networks

Founded: 2005

Company Type: Public

CEO:  Nikesh Arora

Global Headcount: 10000+

Headquarters: Santa Clara, CA

Industry: Enterprise Software & Network Solutions

Designation: Sr Principal Engineer

Per Annum Total Compensation:  $430,500

  • Base: $247,500
  • Stock: $134,167
  • Bonus: $48,833

Blind Rating: 3.6

43. Autodesk

Founded: 1982

Company Type: Public

CEO: Andrew Anagnost

Global Headcount:  10000+

Headquarters: San Rafael, CA

Industry: Computer Hardware Development

Designation: Sr SW Architect/Director/Sr. Director (Level – Grade 15)

Per Annum Total Compensation: $430,250

  • Base: $248,750
  • Stock: $115,000
  • Bonus: $66,500

Blind Rating: 3.8

44. Synopsys, Inc.

Founded: 1986

Company Type: Public

CEO: Art de Geus

Global Headcount: 10000+

Headquarters: Mountain View, CA, US

Industry: Computer Hardware Development

Designation: Principal Software Engineer (Level – 100)

Per Annum Total Compensation:  $425,000

  • Base: $250,000
  • Stock: $100,000
  • Bonus: $75,000

Blind Rating: 3.5

45. Okta Inc.

Founded: 2009

Company Type: Public

CEO: Todd McKinnon

Global Headcount:  5001 to 10000

Headquarters: San Francisco, CA, US

Industry: Software Development

Designation: Principal Software Engineer

Per Annum Total Compensation: $422,724

  • Base: $241,111
  • Stock: $149,889
  • Bonus: $31,724

Blind Rating: 3.8

46. Intuit

Founded:  1983

Company Type: Public

CEO:  Sasan Goodarzi

Global Headcount: 10000+

Headquarters:Mountain View, CA

Industry: Software Development

Designation: Principal Software Engineer

Per Annum Total Compensation:  $419,768

  • Base: $229,692
  • Stock: $137,308
  • Bonus: $52,768

Blind Rating: 3.8

47. UiPath

Founded: 2005

Company Type: Public

CEO:  Daniel Dines

Global Headcount: 1001 to 5000

Headquarters: New York, NY

Industry: Enterprise Software & Network Solutions

Designation: Principal Software Engineer (Level – L6)

Per Annum Total Compensation:  $414,600

  • Base: $223,600
  • Stock: $147,000
  • Bonus: $44,000

Blind Rating: 3.8

48. DocuSign

Founded: 2003

Company Type: Public

CEO: Allan Thygesen

Global Headcount: 5001 to 10000

Headquarters: San Francisco, CA

Industry: Information Technology Support Services

Designation: Software Engineer

Per Annum Total Compensation: $413,770

  • Base: $214,750
  • Stock: $171,958
  • Bonus: $27,062

Blind Rating: 3.7

49. Qualcomm

Founded:  1985

Company Type: Public

CEO:  Cristiano Amon

Global Headcount: 10000+

Headquarters: San Diego, CA

Industry: Computer Hardware Development

Designation: Principal Engineer

Per Annum Total Compensation: $409,417

  • Base: $222,417
  • Stock: $133,333
  • Bonus: $53,667

Blind Rating: 3.7

50. Twilio

Founded: 2008

Company Type: Public

CEO:  Jeff Lawson

Global Headcount:  1001 to 5000

Headquarters:  San Francisco, CA

Industry: Internet & Web Services

Designation: Principal Engineer (Level – IC5)

Per Annum Total Compensation: $401,000

  • Base: $241,444
  • Stock: $155,667
  • Bonus: $3,889

Blind Rating: N/A

51. Samsara

Founded: 2015

Company Type: Public

CEO: Sanjit Biswas

Global Headcount: 1001 to 5000

Headquarters:San Francisco, CA

Industry: Enterprise Software & Network Solutions

Designation: Senior SWE II

Per Annum Total Compensation: $396,382

  • Base: $208,500
  • Stock: $166,757
  • Bonus: $21,125

Blind Rating: 3.8

52. eBay

Founded: 1995

Company Type: Public

CEO:  Jamie Iannone

Global Headcount: 10000+

Headquarters: San Jose, CA

Industry: Internet & Web Services

Designation: Principal MTS

Per Annum Total Compensation:  $393,750

  • Base: $222,500
  • Stock: $113,750
  • Bonus: $57,500

Blind Rating: 3.8

53. Nutanix Inc.

Founded:  2009

Company Type: Public

CEO: Rajiv Ramaswami

Global Headcount: 5001 to 10000

Headquarters: San Jose, CA

Industry: Enterprise Software & Network Solutions

Designation: Senior Staff Engineer

Per Annum Total Compensation:  $392,143

  • Base: $268,000
  • Stock: $121,429
  • Bonus: $2,714

Blind Rating: 3.6

54. Salesforce

Founded: 1993

Company Type: Public

CEO: Marc Benioff

Global Headcount:  10000+

Headquarters: San Francisco, CA, US

Industry: Enterprise Software & Network Solutions

Designation: Principal MTS

Per Annum Total Compensation: $373,026

  • Base: $245,108
  • Stock: $83,088
  • Bonus: $44,830

Blind Rating: 4.1

55. NortonLifelock

Founded: 2019

Company Type: Public

CEO:  Vincent Pilette

Global Headcount: 1001 to 5000

Headquarters: Tempe, AZ

Industry: Computer Hardware Development

Designation: Technical Director

Per Annum Total Compensation: $365,643

  • Base: $222,286
  • Stock: $88,571
  • Bonus: $54,786

Blind Rating: 3.1

56. Rivian

Founded: 2009

Company Type: Public

CEO:  RJ Scaringe

Global Headcount: 5001 to 10000

Headquarters: Irvine, CA

Industry: Transportation Equipment Manufacturing

Designation: Senior Staff Software Engineer (Level – RIV-7)

Per Annum Total Compensation: $365,469

  • Base: $205,875
  • Stock: $137,500
  • Bonus: $22,094

Blind Rating: 3.8

57. ServiceNow

Founded: 2004

Company Type: Public

CEO: William R. McDermott

Global Headcount:  10000+

Headquarters: Santa Clara, CA

Industry: Enterprise Software & Network Solutions

Designation: Software Engineer (Level – IC6)

Per Annum Total Compensation:  $365,313

  • Base: $216,250
  • Stock: $98,125
  • Bonus: $50,938

Blind Rating: 3.9

58. Tanium

Founded: 2007

Company Type: Private

CEO: Orian Hindawi

Global Headcount: 1001 to 5000

Headquarters: Kirkland, WA, US

Industry: Information Technology Support Services

Designation: Principal Software Engineer

Per Annum Total Compensation: $355,700

  • Base: $184,318
  • Additional Pay (Including Stocks and Bonus): $171,382

Blind Rating: 4.0

59. Zoom

Founded: 2011

Company Type: Public

CEO: Eric Yuan

Global Headcount: 1001 to 5000

Headquarters: San Jose, California, United States

Industry: Software Engineer

Designation: Principal Software Engineer (Level – ZP5)

Per Annum Total Compensation: $353,100

  • Base: $195,000
  • Stock: $140,000
  • Bonus: $18,100

Blind Rating: 3.6

60. Snap-on

Founded: 1920

Company Type: Public

CEO: Nicholas T. Pinchuk

Global Headcount: 10000+

Headquarters:: Kenosha, WI

Industry: Consumer Product Manufacturing

Designation: Principal Software Engineer

Per Annum Total Compensation: $331,774

  • Base: $174,296
  • Additional Pay (Including Stocks and Bonus): $157,479

Blind Rating: 3.2

61. Walmart

Founded: 1962

Company Type: Public

CEO: Doug McMillon

Global Headcount: 10000+

Headquarters: Bentonville, AR

Industry: General Merchandise & Superstores

Designation: Principal Software Engineer (Level – L6)

Per Annum Total Compensation: $322,702

  • Base: $204,702
  • Stock: $78,000
  • Bonus: $40,000

Blind Rating: 3.4

62. LiveRamp Holdings Inc.

Founded: 2005

Company Type: Public

CEO: Scott Howe

Global Headcount: 1001 to 5000

Headquarters: San Francisco, CA

Industry: Computer Hardware Development

Designation: Principal Software Engineer

Per Annum Total Compensation: $321,799

  • Base: $185,988
  • Additional Pay (Including Stocks and Bonus): $135,811

Blind Rating: 3.6

63. NetApp

Founded: 1992

Company Type: Public

CEO: George Kurian

Global Headcount: 10000+

Headquarters: San Jose, CA

Industry: Enterprise Software & Network Solutions

Designation: Principal Engineer (Level – MTS VI)

Per Annum Total Compensation: $320,000

  • Basic: $214,333
  • Stock: $64,500
  • Bonus: $41,167

Blind Rating: 3.6

64. Arista Networks

Founded: 2004

Company Type: Public

CEO: Jayshree Ullal

Global Headcount: 1001 to 5000

Headquarters: Santa Clara, CA, US

Industry: Enterprise Software & Network Solutions

Designation: Principal Software Engineer

Per Annum Total Compensation: $317,958

  • Basic: $180,344
  • Additional Pay (Including Stocks and Bonus): $137,614

Blind Rating: 4.0

65. N-Able

Founded: 2000

Company Type: Public

CEO: John Pagliuca

Global Headcount: 1001 to 5000

Headquarters: Boston, MA

Industry: Information Technology Support Services

Designation: Sr Manager Software Engineering

Per Annum Total Compensation: $317,278

  • Base: $187,576
  • Additional Pay (Including Stocks and Bonus): $129,702

Blind Rating: N/A

66. Vimeo

Founded: 2004

Company Type: Public

CEO: Anjali Sud

Global Headcount: 1001 to 5000

Headquarters: New York, NY

Industry: Enterprise Software & Network Solutions

Designation: Principal Software Engineer

Per Annum Total Compensation: $316,456

  • Base: $182,832
  • Additional Pay (Including Stocks and Bonus): $133,624

Blind Rating: 3.8

67. Fastly

Founded: 2011

Company Type: Public

CEO: Todd Nightingale

Global Headcount: 501 to 1000

Headquarters: San Francisco, CA

Industry: Internet & Web Services

Designation: Principal Software Engineer

Per Annum Total Compensation: $315,001

  • Base: $180,346
  • Additional Pay (Including Stocks and Bonus): $134,655

Blind Rating: 4.2

68. Ansys, Inc.

Founded: 1970

Company Type: Public

CEO: Ajei Gopal

Global Headcount: 1001 to 5000

Headquarters: Canonsburg, PA

Industry: Computer Hardware Development

Designation: Principal Engineer

Per Annum Total Compensation: $305,562

  • Base: $175,336
  • Additional Pay (Including Stocks and Bonus): $130,226

Blind Rating: 3.8

69. Hubspot

Founded: 2006

Company Type: Public

CEO: Yamini Rangan

Global Headcount: 1001 to 5000

Headquarters: Cambridge, MA

Industry: Enterprise Software & Network Solutions

Designation: Staff Software Engineer

Per Annum Total Compensation: $305,398

  • Base: $177,434
  • Additional Pay (Including Stocks and Bonus): $127,965

Blind Rating: 4.3

70. Proofpoint Inc.

Founded: 2002

Company Type: Private

CEO: Ashan Willy

Global Headcount: 1001 to 5000

Headquarters: Sunnyvale, CA

Industry: Enterprise Software & Network Solutions

Designation: Principal Engineer

Per Annum Total Compensation: $297,456

  • Base: $179,824
  • Additional Pay (including stocks and bonus): $117,633

Blind Rating: 3.8

71. Akamai Technologies Inc.

Founded: 1998

Company Type: Public

CEO:  Frank Thomson Leighton

Global Headcount: 5001 to 10000

Headquarters: Cambridge, Massachusetts, US

Industry: Information Technology Support Services

Designation: Principal Software Engineer

Per Annum Total Compensation: $289,000

  • Base: $204,000
  • Stock: $40,000
  • Bonus: $45,000

Blind Rating: 3.8

72. Elastic NV

Founded: 2012

Company Type: Public

CEO: Ashutosh Kulkarni

Global Headcount: 1001 to 5000

Headquarters: Mountain View, CA

Industry: Enterprise Software & Network Solutions

Designation: Principal Software Engineer

Per Annum Total Compensation:  $287,354

  • Base: $177,719
  • Additional Pay (Including Stocks and Bonus): $109,635

Blind Rating: 4.4

73. Unity Technologies

Founded: 2005

Company Type: Public

CEO: John Riccitiello

Global Headcount: 5001 to 10000

Headquarters:San Francisco, CA

Industry: Computer Hardware Development

Designation: Principal Software Engineer (Level – Tech IC8)

Per Annum Total Compensation: $286,966

  • Base: $167,589
  • Additional Pay (Including Stocks and Bonus): $119,377

Blind Rating: 3.7

74. Tenable

Founded: 2002

Company Type:  Public

CEO:  Amit Yoran

Global Headcount:  1001 to 5000

Headquarters: San Francisco, CA

Industry: Enterprise Software & Network Solutions

Designation: Principal Software Engineer

Per Annum Total Compensation: $285,039

  • Base: $170,363
  • Additional Pay (Including Stocks and Bonus): $114,676

Blind Rating: 3.6

75. HashiCorp

Founded:  2012

Company Type: Public

CEO:  David McJannet

Global Headcount:  1001 to 5000

Headquarters:  San Francisco, CA

Industry: Enterprise Software & Network Solutions

Designation: Principal Engineer

Per Annum Total Compensation: $282,359

  • Base: $178,745
  • Additional Pay (Including Stocks and Bonus): $103,613

Blind Rating: 4.1

76. CCC Intelligent Solutions Inc.

Founded: 1980

Company Type: Private

CEO:  Githesh Ramamurthy

Global Headcount:  1001 to 5000

Headquarters: Chicago, IL

Industry:  Computer Hardware Development

Designation: Sr Manager Software Engineering

Per Annum Total Compensation: $280,257

  • Base: $176,483
  • Additional Pay (Including Stocks and Bonus): $103,775

Blind Rating: 2.5

77. Rapid7

Founded: 2000

Company Type: Public

CEO: Corey Thomas

Global Headcount:  1001 to 5000

Headquarters:Boston, MA

Industry: Computer Hardware Development

Designation: Principal Software Engineer

Per Annum Total Compensation: $280,116

  • Base: $169,979
  • Additional Pay (Including Stocks and Bonus): $110,137

Blind Rating: 4.1

78. Qualys

Founded: 1999

Company Type: Public

CEO: Sumedh Thakar

Global Headcount:  501 to 1000

Headquarters: Foster City, CA

Industry:  Computer Hardware Development

Designation: Principal Software Engineer

Per Annum Total Compensation:  $279,502

  • Base: $169,770
  • Additional Pay (Including Stocks and Bonus): $109,732

Blind Rating: 2.7

79. Verisign Inc

Founded: 1995

Company Type: Public

CEO: D. James Bidzos

Global Headcount: 501 to 1000

Headquarters: Reston, Virginia, US

Industry: Internet & Web Services

Designation: Principal Software Engineer

Per Annum Total Compensation: $279,264

  • Base: $173,627
  • Additional Pay (Including Stocks and Bonus): $105,637

Blind Rating: 3.9

80. NETSCOUT Systems

Founded: 1984

Company Type:  Public

CEO: Anil K. Singhal

Global Headcount:  1001 to 5000

Headquarters: Westford, Massachusetts, US

Industry: Information Technology Support Services

Designation: Principal Software Engineer

Per Annum Total Compensation: $278,070

  • Base: $171,749
  • Additional Pay (Including Stocks and Bonus): $106,322

Blind Rating: 3.7

81. Tinder

Founded: 2012

Company Type: Public

CEO: Renate Nyborg

Global Headcount:  201 to 500

Headquarters: West Hollywood, CA

Industry: Internet & Web Services

Designation: Staff Senior Engineer (Level – IC5)

Per Annum Total Compensation: $277,000

  • Base: $230,000
  • Stock: $39,000
  • Bonus: $8,000

Blind Rating: 3.7

82. RingCentral

Founded: 2003

Company Type: Public

CEO:  Vlad Shmunis

Global Headcount:  5001 to 10000

Headquarters: Belmont, CA

Industry: Information Technology Support Services

Designation: Principal Software Engineer

Per Annum Total Compensation: $275,950

  • Base: $166,631
  • Additional Pay (Including Stocks and Bonus): $109,319

Blind Rating: 3.1

83. Blackbaud

Founded: 1981

Company Type: Public

CEO:  Mike Gianoni

Global Headcount:  1001 to 5000

Headquarters: Charleston, SC

Industry: Software Development

Designation: Principal Software Engineer

Per Annum Total Compensation: $274,782

  • Base: $169,243
  • Additional Pay (Including Stocks and Bonus): $105,539

Blind Rating: 3.6

84. Equinix

Founded: 1998

Company Type: Public

CEO:  Charles J. Meyers

Global Headcount:  10000+

Headquarters: Redwood City, CA, US

Industry: Enterprise Software & Network Solutions

Designation: Principal Software Engineer

Per Annum Total Compensation: $270,491

  • Base: $167,146
  • Additional Pay (Including Stocks and Bonus): $103,345

Blind Rating: 3.4

85. Overstock.com

Founded: 1999

Company Type: Public

CEO:  Jonathan E. Johnso

Global Headcount:  1001 to 5000

Headquarters: Midvale, UT

Industry: Home Furniture & Housewares Stores

Designation: Principal Software Engineer

Per Annum Total Compensation: $270,271

  • Base: $173,169
  • Additional Pay (Including Stocks and Bonus): $97,103

Blind Rating: 3.3

86. Pegasystems Inc.

Founded: 1983

Company Type: Public

CEO: Alan Trefler

Global Headcount:  1001 to 5000

Headquarters: Cambridge, MA

Industry: Enterprise Software & Network Solutions

Designation: Principal Software Engineer

Per Annum Total Compensation:  $266,444

  • Base: $166,215
  • Additional Pay (Including Stocks and Bonus): $100,230

Blind Rating: 3.4

87. Harmonic Inc.

Founded: 1988

Company Type: Public

CEO: Patrick Harshman

Global Headcount:  1001 to 5000

Headquarters: San Jose, CA

Industry: Electronics Manufacturing

Designation: Principal Software Engineer

Per Annum Total Compensation: $264,819

  • Base: $171,975
  • Additional Pay (Including Stocks and Bonus): $92,844

Blind Rating: 2.5

88. Rackspace Technology

Founded: 1998

Company Type: Public

CEO: Amar Maletira

Global Headcount:  5001 to 10000

Headquarters: San Antonio, TX

Industry: Information Technology Support Services

Designation: Principal Engineer

Per Annum Total Compensation: $263,947

  • Base: $163,477
  • Additional Pay (Including Stocks and Bonus): $100,470

Blind Rating: 2.6

89. IBM

Founded: 1911

Company Type: Public

CEO: Arvind Krishna

Global Headcount: 10000+

Headquarters: Armonk, NY

Industry: Information Technology Support Services

Designation: Senior Technical Staff Member (Level – Band 10)

Per Annum Total Compensation: $263,357

  • Base: $223,607
  • Stock: $27,321
  • Bonus: $12,429

Blind Rating: 3.3

90. Datto

Founded: 2007

Company Type: Public

CEO: Tim Weller

Global Headcount:  1001 to 5000

Headquarters: Norwalk, CT

Industry: Information Technology Support Services

Designation: Principal Software Engineer

Per Annum Total Compensation: $262,747

  • Base: $172,020
  • Additional Pay (Including Stocks and Bonus): $90,728

Blind Rating: 3.5

91. ZoomInfo Technologies

Founded: 2007

Company Type: Public

CEO: Henry Schuck

Global Headcount:  1001 to 5000

Headquarters: Vancouver, WA

Industry: Computer Hardware Development

Designation: Principal Software Engineer

Per Annum Total Compensation: $262,166

  • Base: $162,973
  • Additional Pay (Including Stocks and Bonus): $99,193

Blind Rating: 3.6

92. Confluent

Founded: 2014

Company Type: Public

CEO:  Jay Kreps

Global Headcount:  1001 to 5000

Headquarters: Mountain View, CA

Industry: Computer Hardware Development

Designation: Staff Software Engineer II

Per Annum Total Compensation: $262,019

  • Base: $161,095
  • Additional Pay (Including Stocks and Bonus): $100,924

Blind Rating: 4.2

93. Teradata

Founded: 1979

Company Type: Public

CEO: Steve McMillan

Global Headcount:  10000+

Headquarters: San Diego, CA

Industry: Computer Hardware Development

Designation: Principal Software Engineer

Per Annum Total Compensation: $261,259

  • Base: $172,573
  • Additional Pay (Including Stocks and Bonus): $88,686

Blind Rating: 3.3

94. Juniper Networks

Founded: 1996

Company Type : Public

CEO: René Kofod-Olsen

Global Headcount:  5001 to 10000

Headquarters: Sunnyvale, CA

Industry:  Telecommunications Services

Designation: Principal Software Engineer

Per Annum Total Compensation: $261,233

  • Base: $198,750
  • Stock: $27,733
  • Bonus: $34,750

Blind Rating: 3.5

95. Anaplan

Founded: 2006

Company Type: Private

CEO:  Frank Calderoni

Global Headcount:  1001 to 5000

Headquarters: San Francisco, CA

Industry: Enterprise Software & Network Solutions

Designation: Principal Software Engineer

Per Annum Total Compensation: $260,794

  • Base: $172,507
  • Additional Pay (Including Stocks and Bonus): $88,287

Blind Rating: 3.6

 

96. SolarWinds

Founded: 1999

Company Type: Public

CEO: Sudhakar Ramakrishna

Global Headcount:  Austin, TX

Headquarters: Enterprise Software & Network Solutions

Industry: Principal Engineer

Designation: Principal Software Engineer

Per Annum Total Compensation: $259,907

  • Base: $163,591
  • Additional Pay (Including Stocks and Bonus): $96,317

Blind Rating: 3.4

97. Omnicell

Founded: 1992

Company Type: Public

CEO:  Randall A. Lipps

Global Headcount:  1001 to 5000

Headquarters: Santa Clara, CA

Industry: Health Care Services & Hospitals

Designation: Principal Software Engineer

Per Annum Total Compensation: $256,927

  • Base: $174,491
  • Additional Pay (Including Stocks and Bonus): $82,436

Blind Rating:  3.3

98. LifeOmic

Founded: 2016

Company Type: Private

CEO:  Donald Brown

Global Headcount:  51 to 200

Headquarters:  Indianapolis, IN

Industry: Enterprise Software & Network Solutions

Designation: Principal Software Engineer

Per Annum Total Compensation: $256,730

  • Base: $160,252
  • Additional Pay (Including Stocks and Bonus): $96,479

Blind Rating: 4.0

99. Veeva Systems

Founded: 2007

Company Type: Public

CEO:  Peter Gassner

Global Headcount: 5001 to 10000

Headquarters:  Pleasanton, CA, US

Industry: Enterprise Software & Network Solutions

Designation: Principal Software Engineer

Per Annum Total Compensation: $256,000

  • Base: $199,500
  • Stock: $55,500
  • Bonus: $1,000

Blind Rating: 3.9

100. Cadence Design Systems

Founded: 1988

Company Type:: Public

CEO: Anirudh Devgan

Global Headcount: 5001 to 10000

Headquarters: San Jose, CA, US

Industry: Computer Hardware Development

Designation: Principal Software Engineer

Per Annum Total Compensation:  $255,406

  • Base: $162,323
  • Additional Pay (Including Stocks and Bonus): $93,083

Blind Rating: 3.7

10 Honorable Mentions to Work For Principal Software Engineer

ByteDance

Founded: 2012

Company Type: Private

CEO: Liang Rubo

Global Headcount: 10000+

Headquarters: Beijing, China

Industry: Internet & Web Services

Designation: (Level – 3-2)

Per Annum Total Compensation:  $833,045

  • Base: $328,727
  • Stock: $430,909
  • Bonus: $73,409

Blind Rating: 3.2

Atlassian

Founded: 2002

Company Type: Public

CEO:  Scott Farquhar

Global Headcount: 5001 to 10000

Headquarters: Sydney, Australia

Industry: Software Development

Designation: Senior Principal Engineer (Level – P7)

Per Annum Total Compensation:  $572,800

  • Base: $268,000
  • Stock: $255,200
  • Bonus: $49,600

Blind Rating: 4.3

Informatica

Founded: 1993

Company Type:: Public

CEO: Amit Walia

Global Headcount:  5001 to 10000

Headquarters: Redwood City, CA

Industry: Enterprise Software & Network Solutions

Designation: Staff Software Engineer (Level – L5)

Per Annum Total Compensation: $248,000

  • Base: $186,800
  • Stock: $35,000
  • Bonus: $26,200

Blind Rating: 3.4

Zendesk

Founded: 2007

Company Type: Public

CEO: Mikkel Svane

Global Headcount: 5,860

Headquarters: San Francisco, CA, US

Industry: Software Development

Designation: Staff Software Engineer

Per Annum Total Compensation: $245,800

  • Base: $178,000
  • Stock: $53,600
  • Bonus: $14,200

Blind Rating: 3.8

Squarespace

Founded: 2003

Company Type:Public

CEO: Anthony Casalena

Global Headcount: 1001 to 5000

Headquarters: New York, NY

Industry: Internet & Web Services

Designation: Staff Engineer 2 (Level – L7)

Per Annum Total Compensation: $241,295

  • Base: $194,483
  • Stock: $46,812
  • Bonus: $0

Blind Rating: 3.9

F5 Networks

Founded: 1996

Company Type: Public

CEO: François Locoh-Donou

Global Headcount: 5001 to 10000

Headquarters: NSeattle, WA

Industry:  Computer Hardware Development

Designation: Principal Software Engineer

Per Annum Total Compensation: $231,600

  • Base: $193,800
  • Base: $26,400
  • Stock: $11,400

Blind Rating: 3.7

DigitalOcean

Founded: 2011

Company Type:  Public

CEO: Yancey L. Spruill

Global Headcount: 581

Headquarters: New York City, US

Industry: Technology, Information and Internet

Designation: Senior Software Engineer II

Per Annum Total Compensation: $226,182

  • Base: $152,732
  • Additional Pay (Including Stocks and Bonus): $73,450

Blind Rating: 3.7

Cloudflare, Inc.

Founded: 2010

Company Type: Public

CEO: Matthew Prince

Global Headcount: 501 to 1000

Headquarters: San Francisco, CA

Industry: Internet & Web Services

Designation: Principal Software Engineer (Level – L4)

Per Annum Total Compensation: $197,566

  • Base: $166,625
  • Stock: $30,941
  • Bonus: $0

Blind Rating: 3.9

Fortinet

Founded: 2000

Company Type: Public

CEO: Ken Xie

Global Headcount: 10000+

Headquarters: Sunnyvale, CA, US

Industry: Computer and Network Security

Designation: Principal Software Engineer

Per Annum Total Compensation: $157,481

  • Base: $117,500
  • Stock: $40,000
  • Bonus: $0

Blind Rating: 3.7

Shopify

Founded: 2006

Company Type: Public

CEO: Tobias Lütke

Global Headcount: 5001 to 10000

Headquarters: Ottawa, Canada

Industry: Internet & Web Services

Designation: Senior staff software developer (Level – L8)

Per Annum Total Compensation:  $195,000

  • Base: $160,000
  • Stock: $35,000
  • Bonus: $0

Blind Rating: 3.7

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