Software Developer vs Accountant Salary (2026)
Side-by-side salary comparison based on BLS OES data. Updated 2026.
Higher paying occupation
Software Developer
$127,401/yr median(+$44,804 · 54.2% more)
Higher pay
Software Developer
Median$127,401
Mean$131,906
10th %ile$78,900
25th %ile$99,989
75th %ile$157,880
90th %ile$187,436
Employed1.7M+
Accountant
Median$82,597
Mean$90,112
10th %ile$55,126
25th %ile$66,613
75th %ile$106,014
90th %ile$134,991
Employed1.4M+
Salary Distribution Comparison
Software Developer
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $78,900 |
| 25th percentile | $99,989 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $127,401 |
| 75th percentile | $157,880 |
| 90th percentile | $187,436 |
Accountant
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $55,126 |
| 25th percentile | $66,613 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $82,597 |
| 75th percentile | $106,014 |
| 90th percentile | $134,991 |
Top Paying States
Software Developer
| # | State | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $174,410 |
| 2 | Washington | $166,540 |
| 3 | New York | $166,180 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $165,210 |
| 5 | Oregon | $142,720 |
Accountant
| # | State | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $111,530 |
| 2 | New York | $102,640 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $100,830 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $99,460 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $97,550 |
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which pays more, Software Developer or Accountant?
- Software Developer pays more with a median salary of $127,401/year, which is 54.2% more than Accountant at $82,597/year.
- What is the salary difference between Software Developer and Accountant?
- The median salary difference is $44,804/year (54.2%).
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