Software Engineer vs Human Resources Manager Salary
National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
Compare a different job:
VS
QUICK ANSWER
Software Engineers earn a national median of $132,270/year vs Human Resources Managers at $136,350/year. Human Resources Managers earn 3% more nationally. The gap is $4,080 per year — or $340 per month.
Built by Pierre — MBA, Business Strategist & AI Consultant, Founder of DayblipAbout the author →
Software Engineer
$132,270
national median/year
$11,023/mo • $64/hr
VS
Human Resources Manager
$136,350
national median/year
$11,363/mo • $66/hr
Annual salary gap
$4,080
Human Resources Managers earn 3% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $46,248.
Best states for Human Resources Managers
vs Software Engineers
Virginia+$30,030
Maryland+$26,030
Connecticut+$20,030
Minnesota+$20,030
Nebraska+$20,030
Best states for Software Engineers
vs Human Resources Managers
California+$-4,030
Idaho+$-4,030
Washington+$-4,030
Alaska+$-6,030
Colorado+$-6,030
Share Your Result
Surprised by this number? Share it with friends and family
Human Resources Managers earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Software Engineers is $132,270 versus $136,350 for Human Resources Managers — a difference of $4,080 per year or $340 per month.
The national median salary gap between Software Engineers and Human Resources Managers is $4,080 per year. Human Resources Managers earn 3% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $46,248.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Software Engineers the highest median salary at $168,320 per year.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Human Resources Managers the highest median salary at $172,350 per year.
Salary is one factor — Human Resources Managers earn more nationally. But career choice involves job satisfaction, work-life balance, education requirements, and job growth. Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Human Resources Managers both have different educational paths, licensing requirements, and long-term growth projections. Use salary as a starting point, not the only factor.
Based on a standard 2,080-hour work year, Software Engineers earn approximately $64 per hour nationally and Human Resources Managers earn approximately $66 per hour. Actual hourly rates vary based on overtime, part-time work, and whether the role is salaried or hourly.
Methodology: Salary data from Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024-2025. Figures represent median annual wages for wage and salary workers. Self-employed excluded. Hourly rates calculated at 2,080 hours per year. State salary figures from same BLS OES dataset. Updated annually.
