SalaryByCity

Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education vs Software Developers: Salary Comparison (2024)

Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education

$62,340

Median annual salary

1,393,310 employed nationally

Software Developers

$133,080

Median annual salary

1,654,440 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Software Developers professionals earn $70,740 more per year than Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education professionals — that's 113.5% higher. At the 90th percentile, Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education earns $102,010 compared to $211,450 for Software Developers.

Salary Range Comparison

Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$46,440 – $102,010
Software Developers$79,850 – $211,450
$46,440$211,450

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileElementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationSoftware DevelopersDifference
10th Percentile$46,440$79,850$-33,410
25th Percentile$50,680$103,050$-52,370
Median (50th)$62,340$133,080$-70,740
75th Percentile$79,410$169,000$-89,590
90th Percentile$102,010$211,450$-109,440
Mean (Average)$69,790$144,570$-74,780

Employment Numbers

Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education

1,393,310

employed nationwide

Software Developers

1,654,440

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

Best Cities for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education

CityMedian
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$100,580
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$99,970
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$99,780
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$98,890
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$98,270

Best Cities for Software Developers

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$208,270
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$174,910
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$169,340
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA$161,970
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$159,240

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education or Software Developers?
Software Developers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $70,740 (113.5% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education?
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education salaries range from $46,440 (10th percentile) to $102,010 (90th percentile), with a median of $62,340.
What is the salary range for Software Developers?
Software Developers salaries range from $79,850 (10th percentile) to $211,450 (90th percentile), with a median of $133,080.
How many Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education and Software Developers jobs are there?
There are approximately 1,393,310 Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education positions and 1,654,440 Software Developers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Software Developers to Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education has a median salary of $62,340 while Software Developers earns $133,080. Consider job satisfaction, growth prospects, required education, and work-life balance.

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Data verified March 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS