<?xml version="1.0"?>
<edgarSubmission>

    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <submissionType>EFFECT</submissionType>

    <act>33</act>

    <testOrLive>LIVE</testOrLive>

    <effectiveData>
        <finalEffectivenessDispDate>2010-05-06</finalEffectivenessDispDate>
        <accessionNumber>0000898745-10-000277</accessionNumber>
        <submissionType>485APOS</submissionType>
        <filer>
            <cik>0000898745</cik>
            <entityName>PRINCIPAL FUNDS INC</entityName>
            <fileNumber>033-59474</fileNumber>
            <seriesClassContractData>
                <existing>
                    <seriesId>S000014245</seriesId>
                    <seriesName>Short-Term Income Fund</seriesName>
                    <classContractId>C000090493</classContractId>
                    <classContractName>Class J Shares</classContractName>
                </existing>
                <existing>
                    <seriesId>S000014245</seriesId>
                    <seriesName>Short-Term Income Fund</seriesName>
                    <classContractId>C000090494</classContractId>
                    <classContractName>Class R-1 Shares</classContractName>
                </existing>
                <existing>
                    <seriesId>S000014245</seriesId>
                    <seriesName>Short-Term Income Fund</seriesName>
                    <classContractId>C000090495</classContractId>
                    <classContractName>Class R-2 Shares</classContractName>
                </existing>
                <existing>
                    <seriesId>S000014245</seriesId>
                    <seriesName>Short-Term Income Fund</seriesName>
                    <classContractId>C000090496</classContractId>
                    <classContractName>Class R-3 Shares</classContractName>
                </existing>
                <existing>
                    <seriesId>S000014245</seriesId>
                    <seriesName>Short-Term Income Fund</seriesName>
                    <classContractId>C000090497</classContractId>
                    <classContractName>Class R-4 Shares</classContractName>
                </existing>
                <existing>
                    <seriesId>S000014245</seriesId>
                    <seriesName>Short-Term Income Fund</seriesName>
                    <classContractId>C000090498</classContractId>
                    <classContractName>Class R-5 Shares</classContractName>
                </existing>
            </seriesClassContractData>
        </filer>
    </effectiveData>
</edgarSubmission>
