Software Developer vs Electrical Engineer Salary

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

🏆

Software Developers earn more nationally

$133,080 median vs $111,910 — a $21,170/yr difference (16% lower)

Software Developer →

Median Salary

$133,080

Salary Range

$79,850 – $211,450

10th–90th percentile

Electrical Engineer →

Median Salary

$111,910

Salary Range

$74,670 – $175,460

10th–90th percentile

-16% difference

Software Developer vs Electrical Engineer Salary by City

CitySoftware DeveloperElectrical Engineer
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$208,270$186,920
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$174,910$163,840
California$170,910$140,360
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$169,340$135,480
Washington$166,910$130,730
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA$163,020$134,620
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$161,970$127,160
Boulder, CO$159,670$127,670
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$159,240$128,750
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT$157,540$134,400
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$155,330$134,900
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$154,240$127,520
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$150,880$136,820
Massachusetts$150,520$126,010
Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area$141,220$156,670
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA$141,140$126,930
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$141,030$130,730
Manchester-Nashua, NH$140,820$151,040
Kahului-Wailuku, HI$139,650$129,040
Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area$138,870$128,100
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA$138,740$127,050
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA$138,480$126,820
District of Columbia$136,040$138,860
Vallejo, CA$134,570$139,840
Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY$134,010$125,920

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Software Developer or Electrical Engineer pay more?▾

Software Developers earn more nationally, with a median salary of $133,080 versus $111,910 for Electrical Engineer. That's a difference of about $21,170 per year.

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

Software Developer salaries range from $79,850 (10th percentile) to $211,450 (90th percentile). Electrical Engineer salaries range from $74,670 to $175,460.

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

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

Software Developer vs Data ScientistCompare →Software Developer vs Information Security AnalystCompare →Software Developer vs IT ManagerCompare →Electrical Engineer vs Mechanical EngineerCompare →