Home Salary Calculator Principal Engineer Oakland, CA Principal Engineer Salary in Oakland, CA Principal Engineer salaries in Oakland range from $406,000 to $2,175,000 in 2026. The mid-level median is $725,000, which is 45% above the national average.
Junior (0-2 yrs)
$406,000 – $551,000
Median: $478,500 · per year
Mid-Level (3-5 yrs)
$580,000 – $870,000
Median: $725,000 · per year
Senior (6+ yrs)
$870,000 – $2,175,000
Median: $1,522,500 · per year
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National Average New York, NY Los Angeles, CA Chicago, IL Houston, TX Phoenix, AZ Philadelphia, PA San Antonio, TX San Diego, CA Dallas, TX San Jose, CA Austin, TX Jacksonville, FL Fort Worth, TX Columbus, OH Charlotte, NC Indianapolis, IN San Francisco, CA Seattle, WA Denver, CO Nashville, TN Washington, DC Oklahoma City, OK El Paso, TX Boston, MA Portland, OR Las Vegas, NV Memphis, TN Louisville, KY Baltimore, MD Milwaukee, WI Albuquerque, NM Tucson, AZ Fresno, CA Mesa, AZ Sacramento, CA Atlanta, GA Kansas City, MO Omaha, NE Colorado Springs, CO Raleigh, NC Long Beach, CA Virginia Beach, VA Miami, FL Oakland, CA Minneapolis, MN Tampa, FL Tulsa, OK Arlington, TX New Orleans, LA Pittsburgh, PA Estimated Principal Engineer Salary in Oakland, CA
Estimated† $725,000 – $1,522,500 /year
Median: $1,123,750 per year (adjusted for Oakland cost of living)
Cost of Living in Oakland Cost of Living Level very high
Population 430K
Top Industries Technology, Healthcare, Logistics & Port Operations
vs National Average +45%
Top Employers in Oakland Kaiser Permanente Clorox Pandora Blue Shield of California Port of Oakland
How Oakland Compares City Mid-Level Median Cost of Living Oakland, CA $725,000 very high New York, NY $725,000 very high Los Angeles, CA $725,000 very high Chicago, IL $600,000 high Houston, TX $500,000 moderate Phoenix, AZ $500,000 moderate
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