SalaryByCity

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education vs Software Developers: Salary Comparison (2024)

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

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

$64,580

Median annual salary

1,072,540 employed nationally

Software Developers

$133,080

Median annual salary

1,654,440 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Software Developers professionals earn $68,500 more per year than Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education professionals — that's 106.1% higher. At the 90th percentile, Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education earns $104,670 compared to $211,450 for Software Developers.

Salary Range Comparison

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$47,330 – $104,670
Software Developers$79,850 – $211,450
$47,330$211,450

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationSoftware DevelopersDifference
10th Percentile$47,330$79,850$-32,520
25th Percentile$57,800$103,050$-45,250
Median (50th)$64,580$133,080$-68,500
75th Percentile$83,010$169,000$-85,990
90th Percentile$104,670$211,450$-106,780
Mean (Average)$73,700$144,570$-70,870

Employment Numbers

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

1,072,540

employed nationwide

Software Developers

1,654,440

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

Best Cities for Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$103,640
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$103,640
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$99,840
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$99,740
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$99,530

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: Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education or Software Developers?
Software Developers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $68,500 (106.1% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education?
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salaries range from $47,330 (10th percentile) to $104,670 (90th percentile), with a median of $64,580.
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 Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education and Software Developers jobs are there?
There are approximately 1,072,540 Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education positions and 1,654,440 Software Developers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Software Developers to Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education has a median salary of $64,580 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