SalaryData

Software Developer vs Aerospace Engineer Salary (2026)

Side-by-side salary comparison based on BLS OES data. Updated 2026.

Higher paying occupation

Aerospace Engineer

$126,293/yr median(+$4,941 · 4.1% more)

Software Developer

Median$121,352
Mean$127,085
10th %ile$74,572
25th %ile$94,378
75th %ile$151,381
90th %ile$178,009
Employed1.7M+
View full Software Developer report →
Higher pay

Aerospace Engineer

Median$126,293
Mean$131,559
10th %ile$85,586
25th %ile$102,100
75th %ile$156,298
90th %ile$184,321
Employed68K+
View full Aerospace Engineer report →

Salary Distribution Comparison

Software Developer

Software Developer salary percentiles
PercentileAnnual Salary
10th percentile$74,572
25th percentile$94,378
Median (50th percentile)$121,352
75th percentile$151,381
90th percentile$178,009

Aerospace Engineer

Aerospace Engineer salary percentiles
PercentileAnnual Salary
10th percentile$85,586
25th percentile$102,100
Median (50th percentile)$126,293
75th percentile$156,298
90th percentile$184,321

Top Paying States

Software Developer

#StateMedian
1California$170,910
2Washington$166,910
3New York$161,260
4Massachusetts$150,520
5Maryland$137,890

Aerospace Engineer

#StateMedian
1District of Columbia$175,350
2Washington$158,600
3Maryland$158,220
4Massachusetts$152,210
5Colorado$151,570

Frequently Asked Questions

Which pays more, Software Developer or Aerospace Engineer?
Aerospace Engineer pays more with a median salary of $126,293/year, which is 4.1% more than Software Developer at $121,352/year.
What is the salary difference between Software Developer and Aerospace Engineer?
The median salary difference is $4,941/year (4.1%).

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