Principal Software Development Engineer

Principal Software Development Engineer Salary in Georgia

$51.1K

$133.4K

$195.1K

$135,892

/year

$65.33

/hour

Principal Software Development Engineer Salary Comparison by Location

Nationwide

United States

$160,936

Georgia

Georgia

$135,892

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    How much does a Principal Software Development Engineer make in Georgia?

    As of Aug 26, 2026, the average annual pay for a Principal Software Development Engineer in Georgia is $135,892 a year.

    Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $65.33 an hour. This is the equivalent of $2,613/week or $11,324/month.

    While ZipRecruiter is seeing salaries as high as $195,053 and as low as $51,085, the majority of Principal Software Development Engineer salaries currently range between $114,000 (25th percentile) to $152,800 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $173,098 annually in Georgia. The average pay range for a Principal Software Development Engineer varies greatly (by as much as 38800), which suggests there may be many opportunities for advancement and increased pay based on skill level, location and years of experience.

    Georgia ranks number 50 out of 50 states nationwide for Principal Software Development Engineer salaries.

    To estimate the most accurate annual salary range for Principal Software Development Engineer jobs, ZipRecruiter continuously scans its database of millions of active jobs published locally throughout America.

    Find your next high paying job as a Principal Software Development Engineer on ZipRecruiter today.

    What are Top 10 Highest Paying Cities for Principal Software Development Engineer Jobs in Georgia

    We've identified 10 cities where the typical salary for a Principal Software Development Engineer job is above the average in Georgia in Georgia. Topping the list is Smyrna, , with Sandy Springs, and Decatur, close behind in the second and third positions. Decatur, beats the average in Georgia by $20,834 (15.3%), and Smyrna, furthers that trend with another $54,923 (40.4%) above the $135,892 average.

    With these 10 cities paying on average above the average for Georgia, the opportunities for economic advancement by changing locations as a Principal Software Development Engineer appears to be exceedingly fruitful.

    However, another factor to consider is the average salary for these top 10 cities varies modestly at 23% between Smyrna, and Augusta, , suggesting it may be difficult to see much positive wage advancement. The possibility of a lower cost of living may help determine the balance between location and salary for a Principal Software Development Engineer role.

    City

    Annual Salary

    Hourly Wage

    Smyrna

    $190,815

    $91.74

    Sandy Springs

    $159,778

    $76.82

    Decatur

    $156,726

    $75.35

    Athens

    $155,398

    $74.71

    Atlanta

    $154,766

    $74.41

    Minnesota

    $154,504

    $74.28

    Alpharetta

    $153,004

    $73.56

    Port Wentworth

    $152,831

    $73.48

    Peachtree Corners

    $152,203

    $73.17

    Augusta

    $151,281

    $72.73

    What are Top 5 Best Paying Related Principal Software Development Engineer Jobs in Georgia

    Analyzing similar jobs related to the Principal Software Development Engineer job category in Georgia, we found 5 that were relevant. However, none pay more than the $135892 state average for Principal Software Development Engineer jobs.

    Job Title

    Annual Salary

    Hourly Wage

    Software Requirements Engineer

    $178,754

    $85.94

    Software Engineer V Architect

    $146,937

    $70.64

    Senior Engineer Principal Software Engineer

    $131,242

    $63.10

    Senior Software Test Engineer

    $106,021

    $50.97

    Principal Application Engineer

    $93,472

    $44.94

    About Our Data

    ZipRecruiter salary estimates, histograms, trends and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third party data sources.

    Infographic detailing Principal Software Development Engineer salary in Georgia as of August 2026. Shows a bar chart with salary percentiles ranging from $114,000 to $173,098 annually, with the Georgia average at $135,892 per year or $65.33 per hour. Includes a list of the top 10 highest paying cities in Georgia for Principal Software Development Engineer jobs, with Smyrna leading at $190,815 annually.