$197,500
median · per year, annualized USD
$219,500
median · per year, annualized USD
The median for Backend Engineer is $197,500 per year (typically $152,500–$230,000), versus $219,500 for Principal Engineer ($171,000–$271,125). That puts Principal Engineer about 11% ahead at the median.
Both figures are computed live from active listings on JobsRadar and normalized to annualized USD, so Backend Engineer and Principal Engineer are compared on equal terms regardless of the currency each role was originally posted in. Only roles that publish a salary range feed the medians; numbers refresh every few hours as new roles post and older ones close, so this comparison reflects the market right now rather than a fixed survey. Use it as a directional benchmark when weighing one path against the other.