Career comparison
Software Developer vs. Web Developer
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Software developers earn more at the median ($135,980 vs. $92,650), while web developers usually get to work faster (6 months to 4 years of training). Software developers design, build and improve the apps and systems people use every day. Web developers build fast, accessible websites and web applications people love to use.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Software Developer | Web Developer | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $135,980 ($65.38/hr) | $92,650 ($44.54/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $82,460 – $214,670 | $48,100 – $162,290 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +10.2% (much faster than average) | +3.8% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 95,300 | 5,300 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | 4 years or bootcamp plus portfolio | 6 months to 4 years |
| Key credential | AWS Certified Developer – Associate | Portfolio of projects |
| Work setting | Developers work in offices or remotely, mostly at computers, collaborating through chat, video and code review tools.. | Web developers work for agencies, tech companies, corporations, government and as freelancers. |
What each job does
Software Developer
- Gather requirements and design software features
- Write clean, maintainable code
- Write and run automated tests
- Debug and fix defects
- Review code and collaborate in version control
Web Developer
- Build web pages and applications from designs and requirements
- Write HTML, CSS and JavaScript
- Develop back-end services, APIs and databases
- Make sites responsive, accessible and fast
- Test, debug and fix issues
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working with information, desk work, problem-solving, and working independently. Both are part of the technology field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose software developer if…
- I love solving puzzles
- I enjoy building things with code
- I can focus for long periods
Choose web developer if…
- I enjoy building things on a computer
- I like solving logic puzzles
- I care about design and user experience
Still torn? Take the Software Developer fit quiz and the Web Developer fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, software developer or web developer?
Software Developers earn more at the median: $135,980 versus $92,650 for web developers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Web Developers typically train faster (6 months to 4 years) than software developers (4 years or bootcamp plus portfolio).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects software developers to grow +10.2% from 2025–35, compared with +3.8% for web developers.