Human Resources Specialists vs Software Developers: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Software Developers professionals earn $60,170 more per year than Human Resources Specialists professionals — that's 82.5% higher. At the 90th percentile, Human Resources Specialists earns $126,540 compared to $211,450 for Software Developers.
Salary Range Comparison
Human Resources Specialists$45,440 – $126,540
Software Developers$79,850 – $211,450
$45,440$211,450
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Human Resources Specialists | Software Developers | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $45,440 | $79,850 | $-34,410 |
| 25th Percentile | $55,870 | $103,050 | $-47,180 |
| Median (50th) | $72,910 | $133,080 | $-60,170 |
| 75th Percentile | $97,270 | $169,000 | $-71,730 |
| 90th Percentile | $126,540 | $211,450 | $-84,910 |
| Mean (Average) | $79,730 | $144,570 | $-64,840 |
Employment Numbers
Human Resources Specialists
917,460
employed nationwide
Software Developers
1,654,440
employed nationwide
Top Paying Cities
Best Cities for Human Resources Specialists
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $114,080 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $100,600 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $97,340 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $88,050 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $83,930 |
Best Cities for Software Developers
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| 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: Human Resources Specialists or Software Developers?
Software Developers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $60,170 (82.5% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Human Resources Specialists?
Human Resources Specialists salaries range from $45,440 (10th percentile) to $126,540 (90th percentile), with a median of $72,910.
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 Human Resources Specialists and Software Developers jobs are there?
There are approximately 917,460 Human Resources Specialists positions and 1,654,440 Software Developers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Software Developers to Human Resources Specialists?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Human Resources Specialists has a median salary of $72,910 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