Sales Managers 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 $133,080 more per year than Sales Managers professionals.
Top Paying Cities
Best Cities for Sales Managers
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $175,360 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $174,610 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, GA | $156,950 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $144,910 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $131,410 |
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: Sales Managers or Software Developers?
Software Developers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $133,080 (null% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Sales Managers?
Salary data for Sales Managers is not currently available.
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 Sales Managers and Software Developers jobs are there?
There are approximately N/A Sales Managers positions and 1,654,440 Software Developers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Software Developers to Sales Managers?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Sales Managers has a median salary of $0 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