Software Developer vs Data Scientist Salary

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

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Software Developers earn more nationally

$133,080 median vs $112,590 — a $20,490/yr difference (15% lower)

Software Developer →

Median Salary

$133,080

Salary Range

$79,850 – $211,450

10th–90th percentile

Data Scientist →

Median Salary

$112,590

Salary Range

$63,650 – $194,410

10th–90th percentile

-15% difference

Software Developer vs Data Scientist Salary by City

CitySoftware DeveloperData Scientist
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$208,270$173,160
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$174,910$166,300
California$170,910$136,800
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$169,340$157,290
Washington$166,910$158,760
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$161,970$130,710
New York$161,260$125,400
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$159,240$127,200
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT$157,540$139,660
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$155,330$124,270
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$154,240$131,830
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$150,880$135,190
Massachusetts$150,520$132,250
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA$139,060$124,440
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA$138,480$129,360
Maryland$137,890$124,340
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD$137,350$123,090
District of Columbia$136,040$137,120
Virginia$134,470$126,070
Pittsfield, MA$132,760$125,010
New Jersey$132,400$130,370
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC$132,100$131,110
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA$132,010$125,250
Burlington-South Burlington, VT$131,000$123,060
Bellingham, WA$130,600$134,530

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Software Developer or Data Scientist pay more?▾

Software Developers earn more nationally, with a median salary of $133,080 versus $112,590 for Data Scientist. That's a difference of about $20,490 per year.

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

Software Developer salaries range from $79,850 (10th percentile) to $211,450 (90th percentile). Data Scientist salaries range from $63,650 to $194,410.

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

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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