Principal Financial Salaries in 2026
Principal Financial is a financial services company headquartered in Des Moines, IA, founded in 1879. With approximately 19,000 employees, it is a major employer in the financial services sector.
Average Salary
$85,000
$7,083/mo
Total Compensation
$102,000
base + bonus + equity
Employees
19K
large company
Rating
3.8
★★★★☆
Principal Financial Salary by Level
Salary progression from entry-level to director positions at Principal Financial.
Entry-level employees at Principal Financial earn around $50,000, while directors can earn $264,000 or more.
Top Paying Roles at Principal Financial
| Role | Base Salary | Est. Total Comp |
|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer | $85,000 | $95,200 |
| Product Manager | $80,750 | $90,440 |
| Operations Manager | $68,850 | $77,112 |
| Marketing Manager | $67,150 | $75,208 |
| Data Analyst | $64,600 | $72,352 |
Total compensation estimates include base salary and an average 12% bonus. Stock options/equity are offered but vary significantly by role and level.
Principal Financial Benefits & Perks
Principal Financial Salary Calculator
Select a role and experience level to estimate your salary at Principal Financial.
Mid Career (5-9 yrs)
Estimated Salary at Principal Financial
$89,000
$7,417/month · $42.79/hr
Est. total comp with 12% bonus: $99,680
About Principal Financial
Principal Financial is a financial services company headquartered in Des Moines, IA, founded in 1879. With approximately 19,000 employees, it is a major employer in the financial services sector.
Headquarters
Des Moines, IA
Founded
1879
Industry
Financial Services
Company Size
large
Employees
19,000
Median Salary
$78,000
Hourly Rate
$40.87/hr
Monthly Pay
$7,083
Principal Financial Employee Ratings
3.8
★★★★☆
Overall Rating
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Methodology & Sources for Principal Financial Salary Data
How we estimate Principal Financial compensation data: Our salary figures combine self-reported employee compensation data (Glassdoor, Levels.fyi, Comparably, Blind), SEC filings for public companies (DEF 14A proxy statements include executive compensation), and BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for industry baselines. We weight recent data points (last 2 years) higher to reflect current market conditions.
- Base salary distribution aggregated from employee-reported data points. Principal Financial (founded 1879, 19K employees, headquartered in Des Moines, IA) is in the Financial Services sector.
- Total compensation includes base salary, bonus, and where applicable, equity or other long-term incentives. At Principal Financial, bonuses vary by role, level, location, performance cycle, and business division.
- Level mapping normalizes role names across companies (Entry/Junior/Mid/Senior/Lead/Principal/Director) for cross-company comparison.
- Cost-of-living adjustment uses BLS regional CPI-U data when comparing Principal Financial's Des Moines, IA salaries to other markets.
- Industry benchmarking compares Principal Financial compensation to BLS national averages for Financial Services sector occupations.
Authoritative compensation data sources:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — national salary baselines for Financial Services
- SEC EDGAR — Company Filings — public company executive compensation in DEF 14A proxies
- BLS Industries at a Glance — Financial Services — sector employment, wages, productivity
- BLS Employment Cost Index — quarterly compensation trend data
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) — county-level wage data by industry
- DOL Wage and Hour Division — federal wage compliance and minimum wage
Disclaimer: Principal Financial compensation data is aggregated from multiple sources and reflects general patterns, not guaranteed offers. Actual salaries vary based on level, location, negotiation, performance, and equity vesting. For personalized career advice, consult HR professionals or executive coaches. For job offers, always negotiate based on multiple data points and your unique value.
Reviewed by Brazora Monk · Last updated May 12, 2026 · BLS data current as of latest annual release
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