compare.careers

Career comparison

Software engineer vs. Web developer

Software engineers earn more: a median of $135,980, $43,330 (47%) above web developers at $92,650.

Software engineers have the stronger outlook: +10% projected growth through 2035, vs. +4%.

Getting in is slower for software engineers: about 16 months vs. 13 months for someone with a bachelor's in another field.

Software engineerWeb developer
Median pay$135,980$92,650
Top 10% earn over$214,670$162,290
Growth to 2035+10%+4%
Openings per year95,3005,300
Jobs today1,717,80087,400
Typical entry educationBachelor's degreeBachelor's degree
Time to qualify*16 months13 months
Training cost*$0–$21K$0–$16K

* Starting from a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025. Outlook: BLS Employment Projections 2025–35.

Pay

Software engineer

$135,98010% earn under $82,460 · middle half $105,210–$171,980 · top 10% over $214,670

Web developer

$92,65010% earn under $48,100 · middle half $64,230–$126,230 · top 10% over $162,290
Bar: middle 50% of workers. Line: 10th to 90th percentile. Dot: median. BLS OEWS, May 2025, national.

Switching from one to the other

Set your education and current pay. The calculator lays out the path, what it costs, and the year it starts paying off.

Software engineerWeb developer

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Getting in

Software engineer

Entry education
Bachelor's degree
On-the-job training
None
Prior experience
None

Required: No license; technical interviews are the gate

Web developer

Entry education
Bachelor's degree
On-the-job training
None
Prior experience
None

Required: No license; a portfolio is the gate

What the work is like

Software engineerWeb developer

Dealing with the public

Rarely
Constantly

Unpleasant or angry people

Rarely
Constantly

Time pressure

Rarely
Constantly

Cost of a mistake

Minor
Severe

Freedom to make decisions

Little
A lot

Repeating the same tasks

Rarely
Constantly

Time sitting

Rarely
Constantly

Time standing

Rarely
Constantly

Software engineer: 8% usually work over 40 hours a weekWeb developer: 63% usually work over 40 hours a week

Average worker ratings, 1 to 5. O*NET 31.0 work context survey.

Software engineer: core tasks

  • Analyze user needs and software requirements to determine feasibility of design within time and cost constraints.
  • Develop or direct software system testing or validation procedures, programming, or documentation.
  • Confer with systems analysts, engineers, programmers and others to design systems and to obtain information on project limitations and capabilities, performance requirements and interfaces.
  • Modify existing software to correct errors, adapt it to new hardware, or upgrade interfaces and improve performance.
  • Prepare reports or correspondence concerning project specifications, activities, or status.

Web developer: core tasks

  • Write supporting code for Web applications or Web sites.
  • Design, build, or maintain Web sites, using authoring or scripting languages, content creation tools, management tools, and digital media.
  • Back up files from Web sites to local directories for instant recovery in case of problems.
  • Select programming languages, design tools, or applications.
  • Evaluate code to ensure that it is valid, is properly structured, meets industry standards, and is compatible with browsers, devices, or operating systems.

Skills: what carries over

Both rely on: Programming, Critical Thinking, Judgment and Decision Making, Reading Comprehension, Active Learning, Active Listening.

New for a software engineer moving to web developer: Operations Analysis, Speaking, Writing.

New for a web developer moving to software engineer: Systems Analysis, Technology Design, Systems Evaluation.

Interests (Holland codes): Software engineer: Investigative, Conventional, Realistic. Web developer: Conventional, Investigative, Artistic.

Outlook to 2035, and AI

Software engineer

+10%

faster than average · 95,300 openings a year

BLS lists no specific factors, including AI, changing demand for this job.

Web developer

+4%

about as fast as average · 5,300 openings a year

Occupational substitution, capital/labor substitution - share decreases as low- and no-code tools, along with artificial intelligence (AI), increasingly automate web development and increasingly allow other workers to complete web development tasks.

Quoted notes: BLS Employment Projections, factors affecting occupational utilization (Table 1.12). Average growth across all jobs: +3.5%.

Questions people ask

Who makes more, a software engineer or a web developer?

Software engineers earn more: a median of $135,980, $43,330 (47%) above web developers at $92,650.

Which has the better job outlook?

Software engineers have the stronger outlook: +10% projected growth through 2035, vs. +4%.

How long does it take to become a web developer?

For someone with a bachelor's degree in another field, about 13 months, with tuition of roughly $0 to $15,500. Required: No license; a portfolio is the gate.

How long does it take to become a software engineer?

For someone with a bachelor's degree in another field, about 16 months, with tuition of roughly $0 to $20,500. Required: No license; technical interviews are the gate.

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