Software Engineer vs. Data Scientist Comparison (2026)
Empirical side-by-side analysis of regional cost of living, HUD fair market rents, statutory tax burdens, and occupational compensation spread.
Featured Metro Comparisons
BLS median wage across all occupations, HUD one-bedroom Fair Market Rent, and state and local income tax on a $75,000 salary for a single filer, first metro over second.
| Comparison | Median Wage | 1BR Rent / mo | Tax on $75k | Median Buys More In |
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Featured Occupation Comparisons
National BLS OEWS median wage and employment, first occupation over second.
| Comparison | National Median | BLS Jobs | Higher Median |
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How the comparisons are calculated
Metro comparisons use each area's BLS OEWS May 2025 median wage across all occupations, HUD's FY2027 one-bedroom Fair Market Rent, and the state and local income tax a single filer owes on $75,000 under 2026 rules. "Median buys more in" divides each median by the area's living-cost index from the EPI Family Budget Calculator; it reads "Not published" where BLS or EPI publishes no figure for the area.
Occupation comparisons use national BLS OEWS medians and job counts. Each comparison page goes further: the occupations both metros publish wages for, or each occupation's 10th to 90th percentile pay and the metros where both are published. Pick any two metros or occupations above to build your own comparison.
Software Engineer
Data Scientist
Executive Takeaway & Purchasing Power Verdict
The national BLS median wage is $135,980 a year ($65.38 an hour) for Software Engineer and $120,230 ($57.80 an hour) for Data Scientist, a difference of $15,750 (11.6%). The 90th-percentile wage is $214,670 for Software Engineer and $199,130 for Data Scientist. BLS counts 1,687,890 jobs for Software Engineer and 262,440 for Data Scientist.
Software Engineer vs Data Scientist: Metro Pay Differentials
Comparing BLS median wages for both occupations in the largest metros that publish both.
| Category / Role | Software Engineer Wage | Data Scientist Wage | Advantage Delta | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $166,830 | $135,980 | -$30,850 | Metro Info |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $160,920 | $129,740 | -$31,180 | Metro Info |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $134,380 | $107,640 | -$26,740 | Metro Info |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $129,440 | $106,750 | -$22,690 | Metro Info |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $133,040 | $109,910 | -$23,130 | Metro Info |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $154,930 | $132,200 | -$22,730 | Metro Info |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $132,960 | $108,940 | -$24,020 | Metro Info |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $133,290 | $127,750 | -$5,540 | Metro Info |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $131,750 | $114,540 | -$17,210 | Metro Info |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $133,270 | $112,910 | -$20,360 | Metro Info |
Head-to-Head Comparison Frequently Asked Questions
Which pays more: Software Engineer or Data Scientist?
Nationally the higher-paying occupation is Software Engineer, with a BLS median of $135,980 a year ($65.38 an hour) versus $120,230 ($57.80 an hour) for Data Scientist, a gap of $15,750.
How do entry-level and top earnings compare?
The 10th-percentile wage is $82,460 for Software Engineer and $67,240 for Data Scientist. The 90th-percentile wage is $214,670 for Software Engineer and $199,130 for Data Scientist.
What preparation do these jobs usually need?
O*NET rates the typical preparation for Software Engineer as: Bachelor's degree (O*NET Job Zone 4); for Data Scientist: Bachelor's degree (O*NET Job Zone 4). Licensing rules vary by state and occupation.
How many people work in each occupation?
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics count 1,687,890 jobs for Software Engineer and 262,440 for Data Scientist nationwide.
Software Engineer vs. Data Scientist: Reverse Comparison & Dossiers
Side-by-side wage, living expense, and tax arbitrage comparison for Software Engineer vs. Data Scientist. Empirical BLS earnings and HUD benchmarks. Official 2026 economic data for Software Engineer vs. Data Scientist compiled from Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS surveys, HUD Fair Market Rents, and statutory tax codes.
Quick answers
Nationally the higher-paying occupation is Software Engineer, with a BLS median of $135,980 a year ($65.38 an hour) versus $120,230 ($57.80 an hour) for Data Scientist, a gap of $15,750.
The 10th-percentile wage is $82,460 for Software Engineer and $67,240 for Data Scientist. The 90th-percentile wage is $214,670 for Software Engineer and $199,130 for Data Scientist.