SalaryByCity

Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare vs Software Developers: Salary Comparison (2024)

Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare

$56,270

Median annual salary

71,620 employed nationally

Software Developers

$133,080

Median annual salary

1,654,440 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Software Developers professionals earn $76,810 more per year than Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare professionals — that's 136.5% higher. At the 90th percentile, Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare earns $96,400 compared to $211,450 for Software Developers.

Salary Range Comparison

Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare$37,060 – $96,400
Software Developers$79,850 – $211,450
$37,060$211,450

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileEducation and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and DaycareSoftware DevelopersDifference
10th Percentile$37,060$79,850$-42,790
25th Percentile$45,310$103,050$-57,740
Median (50th)$56,270$133,080$-76,810
75th Percentile$72,690$169,000$-96,310
90th Percentile$96,400$211,450$-115,050
Mean (Average)$62,640$144,570$-81,930

Employment Numbers

Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare

71,620

employed nationwide

Software Developers

1,654,440

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

Best Cities for Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare

CityMedian
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA$79,000
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$77,390
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO$64,180
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$62,530
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$61,880

Best Cities for Software Developers

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$208,270
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$174,910
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$169,340
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA$161,970
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$159,240

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more: Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare or Software Developers?
Software Developers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $76,810 (136.5% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare?
Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare salaries range from $37,060 (10th percentile) to $96,400 (90th percentile), with a median of $56,270.
What is the salary range for Software Developers?
Software Developers salaries range from $79,850 (10th percentile) to $211,450 (90th percentile), with a median of $133,080.
How many Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare and Software Developers jobs are there?
There are approximately 71,620 Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare positions and 1,654,440 Software Developers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Software Developers to Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare has a median salary of $56,270 while Software Developers earns $133,080. Consider job satisfaction, growth prospects, required education, and work-life balance.

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Data verified March 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS