Software Developers vs Computer and Information Systems Managers: which pays more in 2026
$142,947
Software Developers earned $142,947 median in 2025 vs $169,510 for CIS Managers. We break down the 19% gap and when it shrinks or reverses.
TL;DR
Software Developers earned a national median of $142,947 in 2025. Computer and Information Systems (CIS) Managers — the people who run the teams developers work on — sit above that, with a BLS-reported median of $169,510 for the same period. The gap is real, but it compresses when you account for experience level, industry, and geography. If you are a senior developer deciding whether to pursue management, the pay case is positive but not overwhelming. Read section 4 before you update your resume.
The Number (with Source Links)
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics placed the national median annual wage for Software Developers (SOC 15-1252) at $142,947 in 2025 (BLS OES, retrieved 2026).
Median is $142,947. From here we shorten to $143k for readability.
Software Developers earned a national median annual wage of $142,947 in 2025, covering 1,687,900 employed workers (BLS OES).
For Computer and Information Systems Managers (SOC 11-3021), BLS OES reported a national median of $169,510 in May 2024, the most recent full release available for that occupation at time of writing.
That is a $26,563 raw gap in management's favor, or roughly 19% more than the developer median.
The mean tells a different story worth noting. The Software Developer mean annual wage was $148,062 in 2025 (BLS OES), meaning the distribution pulls right. High-earning senior developers and principal engineers lift the average above the median. That compression matters when you think about what the "management premium" actually buys at the individual level.
What the Number Does Not Say
BLS OES is a survey of establishments, not individuals. It captures base wages at a point in time. It does not count equity, bonuses, or deferred compensation, which make up a larger share of total comp the more senior the role.
For CIS Managers specifically, OES excludes stock grants that are standard at public tech companies. A manager at a FAANG-tier employer may clear $300k in total compensation while the OES figure shows $169k in base-equivalent wages.
The developer figure has the same blind spot on the upside. A Staff Engineer at a large tech firm earning $250k+ in total comp registers in the OES data at their base cash wage only. Neither number is wrong. Both numbers are incomplete for negotiation purposes at senior levels.
The Decision Frame: Developer vs. Manager Pay by Scenario
Raw national comparison
| Role | SOC Code | 2025 Median | 2025 Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | 15-1252 | $142,947 | $148,062 | 1,687,900 |
| CIS Managers | 11-3021 | $169,510* | $180,400* | ~482,000* |
*CIS Manager figures from BLS OES May 2024, the most recent full release. Rounded as reported. Developer figures from BLS OES 2025 (RateOrchard derived national).
The 19% headline gap: what compresses it
The $26,563 gap looks clean on a table. Several real-world factors shrink or reverse it at the individual level:
- Experience parity. CIS Managers almost always have 8-15 years of prior technical experience. A developer at year 10 already earns well above the $143k median. The peer comparison is senior developer vs. new manager, not average developer vs. average manager.
- Industry sorting. The highest-paid developers cluster in tech, finance, and defense. The highest-paid managers spread across all industries. Developers in software publishing routinely earn above the management median in insurance or retail.
- Individual contributor tracks. Many large tech employers run parallel IC and management ladders. A Principal or Distinguished Engineer can match or exceed a Director of Engineering in cash compensation.
- Geographic divergence. In high-cost metros, the developer market is extremely liquid. Managers compete for fewer seats and carry more organizational risk.
Growth trajectory
The BLS projects Software Developer employment to grow 15.8% from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations (BLS Employment Projections).
A 15.8% projected growth rate means roughly 267,000 additional developer jobs by 2034 — one of the larger absolute additions in any professional occupation.
CIS Manager growth runs below that rate historically. The developer pipeline is expanding faster than the management layer above it, which has two implications:
- Developer leverage in negotiation increases as demand outpaces supply.
- The management path may face more competition per seat as the developer cohort grows.
The real breakeven question
If a senior developer earns $175k base today and a management role offers $185k base, the nominal gain is $10k. That is roughly 5.7%. Management roles carry budget responsibility, performance review cycles, layoff exposure tied to headcount, and reduced coding time. Whether 5.7% clears that bar is a personal calculation, not a salary one.
For a mid-level developer at $130k who receives a first-time manager offer at $160k, the math is more compelling: a $30k, or 23%, step-up. At that stage, the pay case for crossing over is strong.
Check state-level developer pay before you anchor to the national figure. The Software Developer salary by state page shows how far $143k stretches differently in Texas versus New York.
If you want to model whether a move to management clears your personal cost-of-living threshold, the RateOrchard salary comparison calculator runs the adjustment in under two minutes.
Career Path Consideration: Does the IC Track Close the Gap?
The short answer: at top-tier employers, yes. At most employers, no.
The long answer requires separating the market into two segments:
Segment A: Large tech, finance, and defense contractors These employers run formal IC ladders. A Senior Engineer (L5 equivalent) earns $175k-$220k in base at major tech firms. A Principal Engineer (L6) earns $220k-$280k. The overlap with management compensation is substantial, and in total comp (including RSUs and bonuses), senior ICs often exceed first and second-line managers.
Segment B: Everyone else Outside the top-tier tech market, IC ladders flatten sharply above $150k-$160k. Management is the primary route to $180k+. The OES national median reflects this broader market more than the FAANG exception.
Knowing which segment you are in determines whether the management premium is real or illusory for your specific situation. For a deeper look at what the path to senior developer roles looks like, see how to become a software developer.
Sources and Methodology
| Source | Observation Date | What We Used |
|---|---|---|
| BLS OES, SOC 15-1252 | 2025 | National median and mean for Software Developers; total employment |
| BLS OES, SOC 11-3021 | May 2024 | National median and mean for CIS Managers |
| BLS Employment Projections | 2024-2034 cycle | Growth rate and projected employment for SOC 15-1252 |
| O*NET 15-1252.00 | 2025 | Education, experience, training requirements; Job Zone classification |
We did not adjust wages for inflation between the 2024 CIS Manager figure and the 2025 developer figure. The one-year gap introduces a small positive bias in favor of developers (2025 wages are nominally higher due to inflation). We flagged the difference in the table rather than interpolating.
We did not apply BEA Regional Price Parities to the national figures in this article. State-level COL adjustment is available in the linked salary pages.
FAQ
Is a Software Developer or a CIS Manager paid more nationally?
CIS Managers earn more at the median: $169,510 versus $142,947 for Software Developers in the most recent comparable BLS data. The gap is roughly 19% in management's favor. However, that gap assumes you are comparing the average worker in each bucket. A senior or principal developer at a top-tier tech employer frequently matches or exceeds first-line management compensation, especially when equity and bonuses are included.
What is the salary difference between Software Developers and IT managers?
At the national median, the difference is approximately $26,563 per year, with CIS Managers higher. In practice, the difference varies by employer size, industry, and geography. In large tech companies, the spread can be minimal or reversed for senior ICs. In non-tech industries, management compensation tends to lead IC pay by a wider margin above $150k.
Should I go into management or stay a developer for better pay?
If you are currently earning below $150k, a management role at a company that pays above the national median likely offers a meaningful step-up. If you already earn above $160k as an IC at a tech firm with an active equity program, the financial case for management weakens considerably. The non-pay factors (team leadership, reduced coding, performance review responsibility) should weigh at least as heavily as the salary delta.
How fast is Software Developer employment growing compared to IT management?
BLS projects Software Developer employment to grow 15.8% from 2024 to 2034, adding roughly 267,000 positions. CIS Manager growth is projected at a slower rate in the same cycle. The developer occupation is expanding faster, which supports sustained wage pressure upward for developers over the coming decade.
Does location change which role pays more?
Yes. In high-cost tech metros — San Francisco, Seattle, New York — developer wages at the 75th percentile regularly exceed $200k in total comp and can surpass manager base wages at many employers. In lower-cost markets and non-tech industries, management pay leads IC pay more reliably. Always anchor to your specific market, not the national median.
Where can I find state-level Software Developer salaries?
The Software Developer salary by state page on RateOrchard pulls BLS OES state-level data and adjusts for regional price parity. It is the fastest way to see whether your state tracks the national $143k median or sits materially above or below it.