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Principal Software Engineer H-1B Salary in Atlanta, GA

Employers have filed 211 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Principal Software Engineer positions in Atlanta, GA, with a median salary of $130,478. That's 13% lower than the national Principal Software Engineer H-1B median of $150,000 across all U.S. locations, and 27% higher than the Atlanta, GA all-roles H-1B median of $103,000. Principal Software Engineer ranks #40 among H-1B job titles filed from Atlanta, GA.

Headline numbers for Principal Software Engineer H-1B roles in Atlanta, GA, sourced from certified DOL Labor Condition Applications. This pair ranks #1,444 by filing volume out of the 6,873 job × city combinations we track — in the top quartile for Principal Software Engineer hiring.

$130,478
Median Salary
211
Certified Filings
$108,125
10th Percentile
$184,900
90th Percentile

Principal Software Engineer H-1B Salary Range in Atlanta, GA

The pay distribution for this role spans $76,775 from the 10th to 90th percentile. Half of all offers fall between $117,568 and $161,892, the interquartile range where most experienced Principal Software Engineers land. The median of $130,478 sits 13% lower than the national Principal Software Engineer H-1B median.

10th percentile
$108,125
25th percentile
$117,568
Median
$130,478
75th percentile
$161,892
90th percentile
$184,900
Middle 50% of Principal Software Engineer H-1B salaries in Atlanta, GA: $117,568 to $161,892

Top Employers Hiring Principal Software Engineers in Atlanta, GA

MANHATTAN ASSOCIATES is the largest H-1B sponsor for Principal Software Engineer in Atlanta, GA, with 100 certified filings (47% of local Principal Software Engineer H-1B filings) at a median salary of $123,000. Among the top sponsors, HOME DEPOT MANAGEMENT pays the highest median at $185,000. The pay spread across top employers is 50%, so which employer you work for materially affects your offer.

Median Salary Comparison

Pay spread among top employers: 50% ($123,000 at MANHATTAN ASSOCIATES to $185,000 at HOME DEPOT MANAGEMENT)

Employer Filings Median Salary
MANHATTAN ASSOCIATES 100 $123,000
HOME DEPOT MANAGEMENT 19 $185,000
SECUREWORKS 14 $135,266
HOME DEPOT PRODUCT AUTHORITY 9 $161,950
CRICKET WIRELESS 5 $160,000

How This Salary Compares

Two benchmarks worth knowing. The first is the national Principal Software Engineer H-1B median across every U.S. location — a measure of how local cost-of-living and market demand shift pay up or down. The second is the all-roles H-1B median in Atlanta, GA, which tells you whether Principal Software Engineer pays above or below the typical H-1B job in this metro.

vs. National Principal Software Engineer
-13%
13% lower than the national Principal Software Engineer H-1B median of $150,000.
vs. Atlanta, GA Average
+27%
27% higher than the overall H-1B median in Atlanta, GA ($103,000).

Principal Software Engineer H-1B Salaries in Other Cities

The other top metros where Principal Software Engineer is an active H-1B role. Durham, NC has the most filings (1,041) outside Atlanta, GA. The highest median among these is Santa Clara, CA at $200,000. Click any city below for local salary percentiles and top sponsoring employers.

City Filings Median Salary
Durham, NC 1,041 $120,786
Santa Clara, CA 501 $200,000
Westlake, TX 463 $120,328
San Jose, CA 434 $191,928
Seattle, WA 418 $190,486
Sunnyvale, CA 386 $184,080
Round Rock, TX 345 $130,964
San Francisco, CA 297 $196,000
Austin, TX 264 $145,000
Boston, MA 206 $130,000

Other H-1B Jobs in Atlanta, GA

The most common H-1B specialty occupations filed from Atlanta, GA, ranked by certified filing volume. Software Engineer is the busiest non-Principal Software Engineer role here (3,825 filings). The highest-paying role on this list is Senior Software Engineer at a median of $130,000.

Job Title Filings Median Salary
Software Engineer 3,825 $114,749
Software Developer 3,712 $99,000
Architect 1,784 $92,144
Consultant 1,401 $88,712
Senior Software Engineer 1,400 $130,000
Manager 839 $102,211
Systems Analyst 779 $90,725
Assistant Professor 684 $122,900
Senior Consultant 639 $108,000
Analyst 613 $83,000

Key Insights

The median H-1B salary for Principal Software Engineer in Atlanta, GA is $130,478, based on 211 certified Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. This is 13% lower than the national Principal Software Engineer H-1B median of $150,000 across all U.S. locations. It is also 27% higher than the overall H-1B median of $103,000 in Atlanta, GA across all job titles.

Salaries span a $76,775 range from the 10th percentile ($108,125) to the 90th percentile ($184,900). The middle 50% of workers earn between $117,568 and $161,892, reflecting variation in experience, specific technical skills, and employer tier.

MANHATTAN ASSOCIATES is the largest H-1B sponsor for this role in Atlanta, GA, with 100 certified filings at a median salary of $123,000. Among the top employers, HOME DEPOT MANAGEMENT pays the highest median at $185,000. The pay spread across top employers is 50%, so which employer you work for meaningfully affects your offer.

Frequently Asked Questions

The most common questions people ask about Principal Software Engineer H-1B roles in Atlanta, GA, answered directly from 211 certified Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Every answer below cites the specific data point it's based on.

What is the average Principal Software Engineer salary in Atlanta, GA?

The median H-1B salary for Principal Software Engineer positions in Atlanta, GA is $130,478, based on 211 certified Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) filed with the U.S. Department of Labor.

10th percentile
$108,125
25th percentile
$117,568
Median
$130,478
75th percentile
$161,892
90th percentile
$184,900

The salary distribution for Principal Software Engineer roles in Atlanta, GA shows considerable range: the 10th percentile earns $108,125, while the 90th percentile earns $184,900. This $76,775 spread reflects differences in experience levels, specific technical skills, company size, and seniority.

Compared to the national H-1B median of $130,541, Principal Software Engineer salaries in Atlanta, GA are about the same, reflecting the local cost of living and market demand for this role.

Which companies hire Principal Software Engineers in Atlanta, GA?

The top employers sponsoring H-1B visas for Principal Software Engineer positions in Atlanta, GA are:

These employers represent the largest H-1B sponsors for Principal Software Engineer roles specifically in Atlanta, GA. MANHATTAN ASSOCIATES leads with 100 filings at a median salary of $123,000. Compensation varies by employer, ranging from $123,000 to $185,000.

How do I get an H-1B visa as a Principal Software Engineer in Atlanta, GA?

To obtain an H-1B visa as a Principal Software Engineer in Atlanta, GA, you'll need a sponsoring employer. The process involves several steps:

1
Job Offer
2
LCA Filed
3
H-1B Petition
4
Approved
  1. Secure a job offer from a U.S. employer willing to sponsor your H-1B visa
  2. The employer files a Labor Condition Application (LCA) with the Department of Labor
  3. Once the LCA is certified, the employer files an H-1B petition with USCIS
  4. If selected in the H-1B lottery (if applicable) and approved, you can begin work

Based on our data, 211 H-1B positions for Principal Software Engineers in Atlanta, GA have been certified, indicating strong demand for this role. The top sponsors listed above have a track record of successful H-1B sponsorship for this position.