Palo Alto Networks salaries by job title (2026)
Palo Alto Networks filed 424 certified H-1B applications for full-time roles in FY2026 Q1–Q3 (decisions Oct 1, 2025 – Jun 30, 2026). The median base salary is $180,019, and the middle half of offers fall between $148,869 and $210,978.
Palo Alto Networks base salary by job title
| Job title | Median base | Middle 50% | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Principal Engineer Software | $216,662 | $208,059 – $220,895 | 28 |
| Senior Staff Engineer Software | $179,708 | $167,200 – $180,019 | 24 |
| Principal Software Engineer | $193,029 | $178,991 – $213,324 | 22 |
| Senior Staff Software Engineer | $179,396 | $150,205 – $179,396 | 14 |
| Staff Software Engineer | $149,429 | $130,038 – $149,429 | 10 |
| Senior Manager, Software Engineering | $244,425 | $226,402 – $269,111 | 8 |
| Principal Product Manager | $206,328 | $186,343 – $219,742 | 7 |
| Principal Software Automation/Test Engineer | $178,339 | $169,068 – $180,964 | 7 |
| Senior Product Manager | $195,437 | $182,729 – $200,105 | 7 |
| Principal Site Reliability Engineer | $197,313 | $190,631 – $200,122 | 6 |
| Senior Technical Support Engineer | $108,544 | $105,190 – $108,925 | 6 |
| Principal DevOps Engineer | $178,839 | $156,935 – $183,579 | 5 |
| Principal Engineer | $212,867 | $198,142 – $212,867 | 5 |
| Senior Principal / Architect Engineer Software | $246,411 | $243,563 – $246,411 | 5 |
| Senior Staff IT Software Engineer | $195,548 | $178,377 – $195,548 | 5 |
By location
| Worksite | Median base | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Clara, CA | $186,491 | 326 |
| Plano, TX | $108,925 | 35 |
| Seattle, WA | $189,246 | 7 |
Take-home pay
Most of Palo Alto Networks's filings are for jobs in California. There, the median base of $180,019 leaves about $119,472 a year, or $9,956 a month, after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and California taxes for a single filer with no 401(k) contributions. For Principal Engineer Software ($216,662), it is about $142,477 a year. Use the California paycheck calculator to add a 401(k), a spouse or children.
Experience levels
Each filing names the prevailing-wage level the job was matched to, from entry level (I) to fully competent (IV).
| Wage level | Share of filings |
|---|---|
| I: Entry level | 11% |
| III: Experienced | 6% |
| IV: Fully competent | 83% |
By occupation
| Occupation | Median base | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $186,491 | 216 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $120,628 | 47 |
| Information Technology Project Managers | $195,437 | 25 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $220,448 | 18 |
| Information Security Analysts | $175,577 | 14 |
| Sales Engineers | $171,372 | 13 |
About this data
- Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification, LCA disclosure data for FY2026 Q1–Q3 (decisions Oct 1, 2025 – Jun 30, 2026). Only certified H-1B applications for full-time positions are counted (384,130 filings).
- Each figure is the base wage the employer stated on the application, converted to a yearly amount. Bonuses, stock (RSUs) and benefits are not included, so total pay at large tech firms is usually much higher.
- An application is filed before a worker starts and can cover a range of pay; we use the lower end of that range. Not every application leads to a hire.
- Median: half of filings are above, half below. Middle 50%: the range between the 25th and 75th percentiles.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average salary at Palo Alto Networks?
The median base salary in Palo Alto Networks's 424 certified H-1B filings is $180,019 a year, and the middle half fall between $148,869 and $210,978. Bonuses and stock are extra.
How much does a Principal Engineer Software at Palo Alto Networks make?
The median base salary for Principal Engineer Software is $216,662 across 28 filings (middle 50%: $208,059 – $220,895).
Where does Palo Alto Networks pay the most?
Among locations with at least five filings, Seattle, WA has the highest median base salary at $189,246.
What is $180,019 after tax in California?
About $119,472 a year ($9,956 a month) for a single filer after federal, Social Security, Medicare and California taxes.