Financial Risk Specialists vs Software Developers: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Software Developers professionals earn $27,080 more per year than Financial Risk Specialists professionals — that's 25.5% higher. At the 90th percentile, Financial Risk Specialists earns $182,310 compared to $211,450 for Software Developers.
Salary Range Comparison
Financial Risk Specialists$62,270 – $182,310
Software Developers$79,850 – $211,450
$62,270$211,450
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Financial Risk Specialists | Software Developers | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $62,270 | $79,850 | $-17,580 |
| 25th Percentile | $80,280 | $103,050 | $-22,770 |
| Median (50th) | $106,000 | $133,080 | $-27,080 |
| 75th Percentile | $145,020 | $169,000 | $-23,980 |
| 90th Percentile | $182,310 | $211,450 | $-29,140 |
| Mean (Average) | $119,930 | $144,570 | $-24,640 |
Employment Numbers
Financial Risk Specialists
56,320
employed nationwide
Software Developers
1,654,440
employed nationwide
Top Paying Cities
Best Cities for Financial Risk Specialists
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $141,960 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $140,050 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $137,420 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $130,750 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $128,440 |
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 Risk Specialists or Software Developers?
Software Developers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $27,080 (25.5% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Financial Risk Specialists?
Financial Risk Specialists salaries range from $62,270 (10th percentile) to $182,310 (90th percentile), with a median of $106,000.
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 Risk Specialists and Software Developers jobs are there?
There are approximately 56,320 Financial Risk Specialists positions and 1,654,440 Software Developers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Software Developers to Financial Risk Specialists?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Financial Risk Specialists has a median salary of $106,000 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