Software Developer vs Data Scientist Salary (2026)
Side-by-side salary comparison based on BLS OES data. Updated 2026.
Higher paying occupation
Software Developer
$127,401/yr median(+$20,120 · 18.8% 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+
Data Scientist
Median$107,281
Mean$113,687
10th %ile$66,363
25th %ile$82,902
75th %ile$138,125
90th %ile$167,412
Employed262K+
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 |
Data Scientist
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $66,363 |
| 25th percentile | $82,902 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $107,281 |
| 75th percentile | $138,125 |
| 90th percentile | $167,412 |
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 |
Data Scientist
| # | State | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $163,350 |
| 2 | California | $141,590 |
| 3 | Maryland | $136,370 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $135,280 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $131,750 |
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which pays more, Software Developer or Data Scientist?
- Software Developer pays more with a median salary of $127,401/year, which is 18.8% more than Data Scientist at $107,281/year.
- What is the salary difference between Software Developer and Data Scientist?
- The median salary difference is $20,120/year (18.8%).