Salaries/Software Engineer vs Engineering Manager

Software Engineer vs Engineering Manager Salary

Side-by-side 2026 salary comparison across entry-level, mid-level, and senior pay for Software Engineer and Engineering Manager roles in the US.

Bottom line (mid-level, US median)

Engineering Managers earn $67,000 (33% more) than Software Engineers on average.

Software Engineer vs Engineering Manager by City

LocationSoftware Engineer (Mid)Engineering Manager (Mid)Difference
New York$179K$269K$-90K
Los Angeles$161K$241K$-80K
Chicago$147K$221K$-74K
Dallas$140K$210K$-70K
Houston$139K$208K$-69K
Washington D.C.$168K$252K$-84K
Philadelphia$143K$214K$-71K
Atlanta$140K$210K$-70K

Engineering

Software Engineer

Design, build, and maintain software systems across the full stack.

See Software Engineer salaries in all cities →

Engineering

Engineering Manager

Lead engineering teams, set technical direction, and manage delivery, hiring, and performance.

See Engineering Manager salaries in all cities →
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