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

The average salary for Principal Software Engineer is $285,981 per year (estimate) in US , which is 12% lower than the average PayPal salary of $325,477 per year (estimate) for this job.

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

PayPal employees working as Principal Software Engineer in US have attributed a compensation and benefits rating of 4 out of 5 stars, based on 4 ratings. This is in line with the average of Principal Software Engineer professionals at PayPal 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 $153,691 per year (estimate) and goes up to $477,438 per year (estimate) for the highest level of seniority.

How much does a Principal Software Engineer make at PayPal?

The estimated average salary for a Principal Software Engineer at PayPal is $285,981 per year or $137 per hour, but some professionals have reported earning up to roughly $454,043 per year (90th percentile). The typical pay range is between $227,457 (25th percentile) and $366,744 (75th percentile) annually. This is based on 29 salaries submitted by PayPal 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 $18,955 and $30,562 monthly.

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

SWE Intern - with an estimated total pay of $59K - $100K/yr, Software Engineering Intern - with an estimated total pay of $83K - $139K/yr, Software Engineer Intern - with an estimated total pay of $106K - $158K/yr, Software Engineer I - with an estimated total pay of $140K - $183K/yr, Software Engineer(Internship) - with an estimated total pay of $127K - $201K/yr

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All PayPal salaries

Total salary range for PayPal Principal Software Engineer

Total Pay

$270K

$402K_/yr

About our data

Last updated Apr 10, 202529 Salaries submitted

Pay breakdown

$325K

Median total pay

Base Pay

64.4%

$183K - $240K/yr

$210K/yrmedian

Bonus

9.5%

$23K - $43K/yr

$31K/yrmedian

Stock

26.1%

$64K - $119K/yr

$85K/yrmedian

Deep dive into Pay

Recent salaries shared by Principal Software Engineer at PayPal

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

$410K/yr

($266K • $144K)

San Jose, CA

submitted on Aug 13, 2025

$410K/yr

$266K • $144K

Principal Software Engineer

1-3 years

$205K/yr

($205K • $0)

San Jose, CA

submitted on Jan 2, 2024

$205K/yr

$205K • $0

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Principal Software Engineer

15+ years

$257K/yr

($257K • $0)

San Jose, CA

submitted on Mar 14, 2023

$257K/yr

$257K • $0

Principal Software Engineer

15+ years

$361K - $421K/yr

San Jose, CA

submitted on Mar 22, 2022

$361K - $421K/yr

Viewing 1 - 4 of 4

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PayPal pay & benefits PayPal salaries PayPal Principal Software Engineer salaries

PayPal

Total salary range for PayPal Principal Software Engineer

About our data

Pay breakdown

$325K

Recent salaries shared by Principal Software Engineer at PayPal

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PayPal pay FAQs

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Total salary range for PayPal Principal Software Engineer

About our data

Pay breakdown

$325K

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