National Instruments employees working as Principal Engineer in US have attributed a compensation and benefits rating of 2.3 out of 5 stars, based on 4 ratings. This is 21% lower than the average of Principal Engineer professionals at National Instruments worldwide.
The salary trajectory of a Principal Engineer ranges between locations and employers. The salary starts at $114,397 per year (estimate) and goes up to $378,371 per year (estimate) for the highest level of seniority.
The estimated average salary for a Principal Engineer at National Instruments is $243,231 per year or $117 per hour, but some professionals have reported earning up to roughly $388,829 per year (90th percentile). The typical pay range is between $192,018 (25th percentile) and $312,753 (75th percentile) annually. This is based on 12 salaries submitted by National Instruments Principal Engineer professionals on Glassdoor, as of Jul 2026.
Principal Engineer professionals typically earn between $92 and $150 per hour.
Principal Engineer professionals typically earn between $16,002 and $26,063 monthly.
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