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Salary Comparison

Software Engineer vs Project Manager Salary

Software Engineers earn approximately 21.0% more than Project Managers nationally — $124,000 vs $98,000.

Software Engineer
$124,000
national median annual
Hourly (40 hr × 52 wk)
$60
Biweekly (26 paychecks)
$4,769
Monthly
$10,333
Category
Tech
Project Manager
$98,000
national median annual
Hourly (40 hr × 52 wk)
$47
Biweekly (26 paychecks)
$3,769
Monthly
$8,167
Category
Business
Difference
Annual difference
Project Manager earn less than Software Engineer
-$26,000
Percentage difference
−21.0%
Hourly difference
-$13/hour
Monthly difference
-$2,167/month
Lifetime difference (40-yr career)
Naive — doesn't include compounding raises
-$1,040,000
Reverse
→ Project Manager vs Software Engineer — see this comparison from the other direction

Software Engineer vs Project Manager: salary breakdown

On a national-median basis, Software Engineers out-earn Project Managers by $26,000 per year — a 21.0% gap. That works out to roughly $2,167/month or $13/hour of difference.

Important context: these are MEDIANS — the middle salary in the country. Real-world variation is wide: entry-level roles in either career may pay 25-35% below median, while senior roles or specialized niches can pay 50-100%+ above. Your specific numbers depend on experience, location, employer, and credentials.

When does the salary gap matter most?

For someone choosing between these careers, the $26,000 annual difference compounds:

  • Over 10 years: ~$260,000 in raw salary difference
  • Over 40 years: ~$1,040,000 (without raises or compounding)
  • With 3% annual raises: the gap typically grows because the higher-paid role's raises are also larger in dollar terms
  • With investment compounding: the $26,000/year extra invested at 7% over 40 years grows to roughly $5,174,000 — significantly more than the raw difference

But salary isn't everything. Job satisfaction, work-life balance, growth potential, and career switching costs all matter. A career you can sustain for decades beats a higher-paying one you'll burn out on.

By state and city — significant variation

National medians are starting points. Real salaries vary 30%+ by location:

  • Software Engineer in California ≈ $146,320 (1.18× national)
  • Software Engineer in Mississippi ≈ $104,160 (0.84× national)
  • Project Manager in California ≈ $115,640
  • Project Manager in Mississippi ≈ $82,320

Use our Software Engineer salary by state pages to drill into specific locations.

Other comparisons in Tech

Software Engineer vs Data Analyst
National median: $84,000
Software Engineer vs Web Developer
National median: $80,000
Software Engineer vs Product Manager
National median: $135,000
Software Engineer vs Database Administrator
National median: $100,000

Other comparisons in Business

Project Manager vs HR Manager
National median: $130,000
Project Manager vs Recruiter
National median: $63,000
Project Manager vs Office Manager
National median: $54,000
Project Manager vs Administrative Assistant
National median: $44,000

Related tools

Software Engineer salary by state — Project Manager salary by state — Best cities for Software Engineer — Best cities for Project Manager — Paycheck Calculator — Investment Calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more, a Software Engineer or a Project Manager?▾
Nationally, Software Engineers earn approximately $124,000/year vs $98,000 for Project Managers — a difference of $26,000 or 21.0%. Both numbers are medians; entry-level and senior roles in either field can vary widely from these figures.
What's the hourly difference?▾
Software Engineer: $60/hour. Project Manager: $47/hour. Difference: $13/hour at standard 2,080 hours/year. This matters more for hourly-paid roles than salaried.
Are these national or state-specific salaries?▾
These are US national medians. Real salaries vary 30%+ by state and metro. A Software Engineer in San Francisco earns more than one in rural Mississippi, even with the same title. See our salary-by-state and salary-by-city pages for location-specific numbers.
Should I switch from Software Engineer to Project Manager?▾
Salary is one factor. Also consider: education/training cost (some careers require years of school), job security and growth outlook, work-life balance, fit with your interests and strengths, and geographic flexibility. A higher-paying career you'll burn out on isn't worth more than a moderately-paid one you enjoy.
How do these salaries grow with experience?▾
Most professions see 30-50% growth from entry-level to senior over a 10-15 year career. Leadership roles (manager, director, executive) can double base salaries on top of that. Specialized skills (rare languages, niche expertise) command premium pay regardless of years. Continuous learning matters more than tenure alone.