Principal Infrastructure Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does a Principal Infrastructure Engineer make in the United States?

As of May 18, 2021, the average salary for a Principal Infrastructure Engineer in the United States is $164,896 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $79.

However, a Principal Infrastructure Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $181,259
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $151,026 to $173,461
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $138,397
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View as table View as graph 25% $151,026 10% $138,397 90% $181,259 75% $173,461 $164,896 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Principal Infrastructure Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $173,461 $14,455 $3,336 $83
Average $164,896 $13,741 $3,171 $79
25th Percentile $151,026 $12,585 $2,904 $73
Check out Principal Infrastructure Engineer Job Openings in the United States
ADVANCED REPAIR PRINCIPAL ENGINEER

GE Aviation - Evendale, OH

PRINCIPAL SOFTWARE ENGINEER

F5 Networks - Cincinnati, OH

PRINCIPAL SOFTWARE ENGINEER

F5 Networks - Baltimore, OH

PRINCIPAL CYBERSECURITY ENGINEER

Liberty Mutual - Columbus, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Principal Infrastructure Engineer Salaries

A Principal Infrastructure Engineer's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Principal Infrastructure Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Principal Infrastructure Engineer's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $118,594
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $145,094
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $166,312
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $139,994
  • Expert (over 8 years): $151,797
Levels Salary
Software ... Level Principal Infrastructure Engineer$118,594
Software ... Level Principal Infrastructure Engineer$145,094
Principal... Level Principal Infrastructure Engineer$166,312
Software ... Level Principal Infrastructure Engineer$139,994
Software ... Level Principal Infrastructure Engineer$151,797
$118,594 0 yr
$145,094 < 2 yrs
$166,312 2-4 yrs
$139,994 5-8 yrs
$151,797 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Principal Infrastructure Engineer Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Principal Infrastructure Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $182,573.
  • California: $181,880.
  • Massachusetts: $179,456.

Top Paying Cities for Principal Infrastructure Engineers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $207,983
  • San Francisco: $205,938
  • Oakland: $201,371

What Skills Can Increase a Principal Infrastructure Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 8.47% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Python (Mentioned in 2.2% Job Postings): Applying the concepts and algorithms of Python to design, develop and maintain software applications to comply with business requirements.
  • System Design (Mentioned in 1.86% Job Postings): Systems design is the process of defining elements of a system like modules, architecture, components and their interfaces and data for a system based on the specified requirements.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 8.47%
Python 2.2%
System Design 1.86%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Principal Infrastructure Engineer's salary.
  • Troubleshooting: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
  • DevOps: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
  • Presentation: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Troubleshooting
 $169,843
3%
DevOps
 $169,843
3%
Presentation
 $169,843
3%
Leadership
 $168,194
2%
Agile
 $168,194
2%
Initiative
 $168,194
2%
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How Education impacts a Principal Infrastructure Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Principal Infrastructure Engineers enter the field with a No Diploma degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Principal Infrastructure Engineer with a No Diploma is between $157,334 and $163,264).

Principal Infrastructure Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Principal Infrastructure Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 4.0%
High School 22.0%
Associates 12.0%
Bachelors 40.0%
Masters 22.0%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Principal Infrastructure Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Principal Infrastructure Engineer's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on May 18, 2021
$151,026
Average $164,896/year
$173,461
$12,585
Average $13,741/month
$14,455
$2,904
Average $3,171/week
$3,336
$73
Average $79/hour
$83
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $173,461 $14,455 $3,336 $83
Average $164,896 $13,741 $3,171 $79
25th Percentile $151,026 $12,585 $2,904 $73

Salaries of jobs related to Principal Infrastructure Engineer

Salary Trends for Principal Infrastructure Engineer

Salaries for a Principal Infrastructure Engineer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $161,401 in 2023 to around $159,679 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Principal Infrastructure Engineer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Principal Infrastructure Engineer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$161,401
2024
$161,750
2025
$159,679
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $161,401
2024 $161,750
2025 $159,679
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Principal Infrastructure Engineer

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Principal Infrastructure Engineer

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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