Principal Structural Engineer Salaries
How much does a Principal Structural Engineer make?
Total pay range
$180K - $290K/yr
$227K/yrMedian total pay
Pay breakdown
$134K - $205K/yrBase pay
$46K - $86K/yrAdditional pay
About our data
Confident
The “Most Likely Range” reflects values within the 25th and 75th percentile of all pay data available for this role. Glassdoor salaries are powered by our proprietary machine learning model, which utilizes salaries collected from our users and the latest government data to make pay predictions.
How accurate is a total pay range of $180K-$290K/yr?
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Top paying industries
The top 2 paying industries for a Principal Structural Engineer in United States are Aerospace & Defense with a median total pay of $165,108 and Energy, Mining & Utilities with a median total pay of $153,042.
Top paying companies in Aerospace & Defense for Principal Structural Engineer are Northrop Grumman and Pratt & Whitney.
The top paying company in Energy, Mining & Utilities for Principal Structural Engineer is Worley.
Aerospace & Defense
$165,108
Aerospace & Defense
Top paying companies in Aerospace & Defense for Principal Structural Engineer are Northrop Grumman and Pratt & Whitney.
Energy, Mining & Utilities
$153,042
Aerospace & Defense
Top paying companies in Aerospace & Defense for Principal Structural Engineer are Northrop Grumman and Pratt & Whitney.
Recent salaries shared by Principal Structural Engineer
50 salaries
Job Title | Years of Experience
Total Pay
Location
Date submitted
Job Title | Years of Experience
Location
Date submitted
Total Pay
Base • Additional pay
Principal Structural Engineer
7-9 years
$122K/yr
$122K • $0
Jupiter, FL
submitted on May 3, 2026
$122K/yr
$122K • $0
Principal Structural Engineer
7-9 years
$110K/yr
$110K • $0
El Segundo, CA
submitted on Apr 30, 2026
$110K/yr
$110K • $0
Principal Structural Engineer
7-9 years
$118K/yr
$118K • $0
East Hartford, CT
submitted on Mar 4, 2026
$118K/yr
$118K • $0
Principal Structural Engineer
4-6 years
$114K/yr
$113K • $993
Baltimore, MD
submitted on Jan 26, 2026
$114K/yr
$113K • $993
Principal Structural Engineer
4-6 years
$105K/yr
$104K • $1K
Roy, UT
submitted on Dec 26, 2025
$105K/yr
$104K • $1K
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Principal Structural Engineer
15+ years
$187K/yr
$187K • $0
Houston, TX
submitted on Dec 15, 2025
$187K/yr
$187K • $0
Principal Structural Engineer
7-9 years
$132K/yr
$130K • $2K
Dayton, OH
submitted on Nov 25, 2025
$132K/yr
$130K • $2K
Principal Structural Engineer
7-9 years
$134K - $156K/yr
El Segundo, CA
submitted on Nov 18, 2025
$134K - $156K/yr
Principal Structural Engineer
4-6 years
$94K - $109K/yr
Melbourne, FL
submitted on Oct 6, 2025
$94K - $109K/yr
Principal Structural Engineer
10-14 years
$88K/yr
$88K • $0
Aguadilla, PR
submitted on Oct 2, 2025
$88K/yr
$88K • $0
Viewing 1 - 10 of 50
Glassdoor Economist Pay Overview
What is the pay outlook for Engineering?
Engineering jobs are in high demand with workers receiving generous compensation packages and bonuses. Engineering offers ample opportunity for growth and development with transferable skills across an array of fields from software, supply chain and logistics to aerospace. Most roles require at least a bachelor’s degree. To remain competitive, job-seekers should consider specialization or skill-specific programs such as coding boot-camps or certifications.Show more
Frequently asked questions about Principal Structural Engineer salaries
How much does a Principal Structural Engineer in United States make?
The average salary for a Principal Structural Engineer is $226,742 per year or $109 per hour in United States, which is in line with the national average. Top earners have reported making up to $359,684 (90th percentile). However, the typical pay range in United States is between $179,798 (25th percentile) and $290,348 (75th percentile) annually. Salary estimates are based on 128 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by Principal Structural Engineer employees in United States as of June 2026.
What is the highest salary for a Principal Structural Engineer in United States?
The highest salary for a Principal Structural Engineer in United States is $290,348 per year, $24,196 per month or $140 per hour.
What is the lowest salary for a Principal Structural Engineer in United States?
The lowest salary for a Principal Structural Engineer in United States is $179,798 per year, $14,983 per month or $86 per hour.
What is the salary trajectory of a Principal Structural Engineer?
The salary trajectory of a Principal Structural Engineer ranges between locations and employers. The salary starts at $127,709 per year (estimate) and goes up to $230,293 per year (estimate) for the highest level of seniority.