Software Engineer vs Data Scientist Salary (2026)
Side-by-side salary comparison for software engineers and data scientists. Data Scientists earn $82,300/yr globally — 18% more than software engineers at $67,421/yr. Below: full breakdown by experience level and country.
Last updated · Annual USD, pre-tax
Salary by experience level
| Level | Software Engineer | Data Scientist |
|---|---|---|
| Junior (0–2 yrs) | $47,195 | $57,610 |
| Mid-level (3–5 yrs) | $67,421 | $82,300 |
| Senior (6+ yrs) | $94,389 | $115,220 |
Junior ≈ mid × 0.7, senior ≈ mid × 1.4. "Diff" shows how much more software engineers earn vs data scientists.
Country-by-country comparison
Top 10 countries with data for both roles, sorted by combined pay (mid-level USD).
| Country | Software Engineer | Data Scientist |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $145,000 | $158,000 |
| Canada | $110,000 | $118,000 |
| Australia | $108,000 | $118,000 |
| Singapore | $88,000 | $92,000 |
| United Kingdom | $85,000 | $90,000 |
| Germany | $78,000 | $85,000 |
| United Arab Emirates | $70,000 | $78,000 |
| Brazil | $30,000 | $38,000 |
| India | $28,000 | $32,000 |
| Nepal | $12,000 | $14,000 |
Why the gap exists
Both roles sit in tech, so the gap reflects specialization rather than industry. Data Scientists typically command a premium because of scarcer specialised skills and higher revenue leverage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Data Scientists earn more on average: $82,300/yr vs $67,421/yr for software engineers — a 18% gap at the global mid-level.
Related pages
Salary medians derived from our global salary database. See our methodology. Canonical URL: https://salarybyrole.com/vs/software-engineer-vs-data-scientist