Marketing Manager vs Software Developer Salary

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

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Marketing Managers earn more nationally

$161,030 median vs $133,080 — a $27,950/yr difference (17% lower)

Marketing Manager →

Median Salary

$161,030

Salary Range

$81,900 – N/A

10th–90th percentile

Software Developer →

Median Salary

$133,080

Salary Range

$79,850 – $211,450

10th–90th percentile

-17% difference

Marketing Manager vs Software Developer Salary by City

CityMarketing ManagerSoftware Developer
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$228,580$208,270
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$212,520$174,910
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$200,010$154,240
Massachusetts$192,480$150,520
California$178,160$170,910
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$176,240$150,880
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$175,560$161,970
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$173,880$169,340
Boulder, CO$172,740$159,670
New York$172,590$161,260
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$171,590$159,240
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT$170,150$157,540
Washington$168,800$166,910
District of Columbia$168,080$136,040
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA$166,690$163,020
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA$165,800$138,480
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$165,000$149,010
Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area$164,510$141,220
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$163,100$155,330
Manchester-Nashua, NH$162,010$140,820
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$155,670$141,030
Maryland$154,080$137,890
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA$152,020$138,740
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD$148,190$137,350
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA$145,530$141,140

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Marketing Manager or Software Developer pay more?▾

Marketing Managers earn more nationally, with a median salary of $161,030 versus $133,080 for Software Developer. That's a difference of about $27,950 per year.

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

Marketing Manager salaries range from $81,900 (10th percentile) to N/A (90th percentile). Software Developer salaries range from $79,850 to $211,450.

Which career has more growth potential — Marketing Manager 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.

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