Financial Managers vs Software Developers: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Financial Managers professionals earn $28,620 more per year than Software Developers professionals — that's 21.5% higher.
Salary Range Comparison
Financial Managers$86,490 – N/A
Software Developers$79,850 – $211,450
$79,850$211,450
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Financial Managers | Software Developers | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $86,490 | $79,850 | +$6,640 |
| 25th Percentile | $118,360 | $103,050 | +$15,310 |
| Median (50th) | $161,700 | $133,080 | +$28,620 |
| 75th Percentile | $214,210 | $169,000 | +$45,210 |
| 90th Percentile | N/A | $211,450 | N/A |
| Mean (Average) | $180,470 | $144,570 | +$35,900 |
Employment Numbers
Financial Managers
818,620
employed nationwide
Software Developers
1,654,440
employed nationwide
Top Paying Cities
Best Cities for Financial Managers
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $218,920 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $216,520 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $211,730 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $188,490 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $180,770 |
Best Cities for Software Developers
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| 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: Financial Managers or Software Developers?
Financial Managers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $28,620 (21.5% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Financial Managers?
Financial Managers salaries range from $86,490 (10th percentile) to N/A (90th percentile), with a median of $161,700.
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 Financial Managers and Software Developers jobs are there?
There are approximately 818,620 Financial Managers positions and 1,654,440 Software Developers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Software Developers to Financial Managers?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Financial Managers has a median salary of $161,700 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