Side-by-side compensation comparison across national and state-level data.
Product Managers out-earn Software Engineers by $21,000 (13%) on median.
Percentiles for 2026. Higher percentile values reflect senior/specialized roles.
| Percentile | Software Engineer | Product Manager | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25th | $99,800 | $117,700 | $17,900 |
| Median (50th) | $138,700 | $159,700 | $21,000 |
| 75th | $183,900 | $208,000 | $24,100 |
| 90th (top earners) | $231,100 | $262,700 | $31,600 |
Which job wins in each state (based on median annual salary).
| State | Software Engineer | Product Manager | Higher Pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $215,000 | $247,500 | Product Manager |
| Texas | $159,500 | $172,500 | Product Manager |
| Florida | $141,500 | $162,900 | Product Manager |
| New York | $187,200 | $215,600 | Product Manager |
| Pennsylvania | $144,200 | $166,100 | Product Manager |
| Illinois | $151,200 | $174,100 | Product Manager |
| Ohio | $129,000 | $148,500 | Product Manager |
| Georgia | $142,800 | $164,500 | Product Manager |
| North Carolina | $137,300 | $158,100 | Product Manager |
| Michigan | $133,100 | $153,300 | Product Manager |
| New Jersey | $174,700 | $201,200 | Product Manager |
| Virginia | $156,700 | $180,500 | Product Manager |
| Washington | $196,900 | $226,800 | Product Manager |
| Arizona | $140,100 | $161,300 | Product Manager |
| Massachusetts | $180,300 | $204,400 | Product Manager |
Designs, writes, and maintains software systems. Demand remains strong despite 2023-24 tech contraction.
Owns product strategy, roadmap, and execution. Sits between engineering, design, and business.
Nationally, Product Managers out-earn Software Engineers by approximately $21,000 per year (13% difference). However, this varies by state, experience level, and specific employer.
Both fields have positive 2026 growth outlooks. Software Engineers are projected at +2.5% YoY wage growth, while Product Managers are at +2.5%. Beyond wage growth, consider opportunity density (job openings) and your geographic flexibility.
Software Engineer typically requires: Designs, writes, and maintains software systems. Demand remains strong despite 2023-24 tech contraction.. Product Manager typically requires: Owns product strategy, roadmap, and execution. Sits between engineering, design, and business.. Compare the formal requirements against your existing skills and education to assess the switching cost.
Salary is one input among many. Job satisfaction, skills transferability, geographic fit, and long-term ceiling matter as much as median pay. Use this as a benchmark, then dig into job descriptions and talk to people in both fields before deciding.