Salaries/Software Engineer vs Product Manager

Software Engineer vs Product Manager Salary

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

Bottom line (mid-level, US median)

Software Engineers earn $9,000 (7% more) than Product Managers on average.

Software Engineer vs Product Manager by City

LocationSoftware Engineer (Mid)Product Manager (Mid)Difference
New York$179K$166K+$13K
Los Angeles$161K$150K+$11K
Chicago$147K$137K+$10K
Dallas$140K$130K+$10K
Houston$139K$129K+$10K
Washington D.C.$168K$156K+$12K
Philadelphia$143K$133K+$10K
Atlanta$140K$130K+$10K

Engineering

Software Engineer

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

See Software Engineer salaries in all cities →

Product

Product Manager

Define product strategy, prioritize features, and drive cross-functional execution.

See Product Manager salaries in all cities →
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