How does the salary as Principal Software Engineer at CarMax compare with the base salary range for this job?

The average salary for Principal Software Engineer is $285,999 per year (estimate) in US , which is 26% higher than the average CarMax salary of $227,798 per year (estimate) for this job.

Are Principal Software Engineer professionals at CarMax in US satisfied with their compensation?

CarMax employees working as Principal Software Engineer in US have attributed a compensation and benefits rating of 3.2 out of 5 stars, based on 3 ratings. This is in line with the average of Principal Software Engineer professionals at CarMax worldwide.

What is the salary trajectory of a Principal Software Engineer?

The salary trajectory of a Principal Software Engineer ranges between locations and employers. The salary starts at $153,632 per year (estimate) and goes up to $477,198 per year (estimate) for the highest level of seniority.

How much does a Principal Software Engineer make at CarMax?

The estimated average salary for a Principal Software Engineer at CarMax is $285,999 per year or $137 per hour, but some professionals have reported earning up to roughly $454,075 per year (90th percentile). The typical pay range is between $227,472 (25th percentile) and $366,769 (75th percentile) annually. This is based on 19 salaries submitted by CarMax Principal Software Engineer professionals on Glassdoor, as of Jul 2026.

What is the typical salary for a Principal Software Engineer per hour?

Principal Software Engineer professionals typically earn between $109 and $176 per hour.

What is the typical salary for a Principal Software Engineer per month?

Principal Software Engineer professionals typically earn between $18,956 and $30,564 monthly.

What is the pay for job titles similar to Principal Software Engineer at CarMax?

Software Engineer(Internship) - with an estimated total pay of $67K - $118K/yr, Software Engineer I - with an estimated total pay of $99K - $129K/yr, Software Engineer II - with an estimated total pay of $121K - $158K/yr, Software Engineer - with an estimated total pay of $118K - $173K/yr, Senior Software Engineer - with an estimated total pay of $136K - $180K/yr

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All CarMax salaries

Total salary range for CarMax Principal Software Engineer

Total Pay

$194K

$271K_/yr

About our data

Last updated Apr 10, 202519 Salaries submitted

Pay breakdown

$228K

Median total pay

Base Pay

79.4%

$159K - $206K/yr

$181K/yrmedian

Bonus

8.3%

$14K - $27K/yr

$19K/yrmedian

Stock

12.3%

$21K - $39K/yr

$28K/yrmedian

Deep dive into Pay

Recent salaries shared by Principal Software Engineer at CarMax

Job Title | Years of Experience

Base • Additional pay

Location

Date submitted

Job Title | Years of Experience

Location

Date submitted

Base • Additional pay

Principal Software Engineer

15+ years

$160K - $186K/yr

Richmond, VA

submitted on Feb 24, 2026

$160K - $186K/yr

Principal Software Engineer

10-14 years

$191K/yr

($160K • $31K)

Richmond, VA

submitted on Dec 13, 2025

$191K/yr

$160K • $31K

Principal Software Engineer

10-14 years

$184K/yr

($159K • $25K)

Richmond, VA

submitted on Nov 3, 2025

$184K/yr

$159K • $25K

Principal Software Engineer

15+ years

$176K - $204K/yr

Richmond, VA

submitted on Nov 3, 2025

$176K - $204K/yr

Principal Software Engineer

7-9 years

$192K/yr

($163K • $29K)

Richmond, VA

submitted on Aug 24, 2025

$192K/yr

$163K • $29K

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Principal Software Engineer

15+ years

$159K/yr

($146K • $13K)

Richmond, VA

submitted on Jun 17, 2025

$159K/yr

$146K • $13K

Principal Software Engineer

7-9 years

$178K - $207K/yr

Richmond, VA

submitted on Mar 29, 2025

$178K - $207K/yr

Principal Software Engineer

10-14 years

$203K/yr

($172K • $31K)

Plano, TX

submitted on Feb 26, 2025

$203K/yr

$172K • $31K

Principal Software Engineer

7-9 years

$170K/yr

($151K • $19K)

Richmond, VA

submitted on Dec 22, 2024

$170K/yr

$151K • $19K

Principal Software Engineer

15+ years

$208K/yr

($180K • $28K)

Dallas, TX

submitted on Nov 16, 2024

$208K/yr

$180K • $28K

Viewing 1 - 10 of 20

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Total salary range for CarMax Principal Software Engineer

About our data

Pay breakdown

$228K

Recent salaries shared by Principal Software Engineer at CarMax

CarMax pay FAQs

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Total salary range for CarMax Principal Software Engineer

About our data

Pay breakdown

$228K

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