Lawyer vs Software Developer Salary

Side-by-side salary comparison for Lawyer and Software Developer — national medians, pay ranges, and city-by-city data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

🏆

Lawyers earn more nationally

$151,160 median vs $133,080 — a $18,080/yr difference (12% lower)

Lawyer →

Median Salary

$151,160

Salary Range

$72,780 – N/A

10th–90th percentile

Software Developer →

Median Salary

$133,080

Salary Range

$79,850 – $211,450

10th–90th percentile

-12% difference

Lawyer vs Software Developer Salary by City

CityLawyerSoftware Developer
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$215,090$174,910
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$205,900$155,330
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$203,450$161,970
California$197,790$170,910
Vallejo, CA$196,980$134,570
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$194,740$154,240
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA$192,800$138,740
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$191,880$150,880
District of Columbia$191,880$136,040
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO$180,940$134,120
Massachusetts$179,050$150,520
New York$177,210$161,260
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA$173,410$138,480
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA$173,160$141,140
Delaware$172,710$135,160
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$171,120$141,030
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA$170,380$163,020
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT$168,150$157,540
Colorado$167,970$134,540
Salinas, CA$167,700$134,300
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$166,090$130,030
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$165,000$159,240
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$162,680$169,340
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$161,420$149,010
Napa, CA$159,270$131,050

Green = higher-paying role in that city. Source: BLS OEWS.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Lawyer or Software Developer pay more?▾

Lawyers earn more nationally, with a median salary of $151,160 versus $133,080 for Software Developer. That's a difference of about $18,080 per year.

What's the salary range for a Lawyer vs a Software Developer?▾

Lawyer salaries range from $72,780 (10th percentile) to N/A (90th percentile). Software Developer salaries range from $79,850 to $211,450.

Which career has more growth potential — Lawyer or Software Developer?▾

Salary growth depends on experience, specialization, location, and industry sector. Both roles show strong upper-quartile earnings. Check city-by-city data above — in some metros one role significantly outpaces the other, which often reflects local industry demand and competition.

Related Comparisons

Lawyer vs PhysicianCompare →Lawyer vs Financial ManagerCompare →Software Developer vs Data ScientistCompare →Software Developer vs Information Security AnalystCompare →