Do software engineering managers make more than software engineers?

Yes, software engineering managers make more than software engineers. On average, software engineering managers make $129,000 yearly compared to software engineers at $86,000. As most jobs go, factors like location, industry, and experience can determine your exact pay. For managers, especially, their position is usually senior or executive level with high-level responsibilities and duties and thus generally means higher pay.

Do software engineers need managers?

Yes, software engineers need managers. The manager is an administrative position, which reports to higher management, and supervises and directs the work of other software engineers within projects involving the design and development of software, programs, and applications.

How long does it take to become a software engineering manager?

It usually takes more than ten years to become a software engineering manager. The position generally requires postsecondary education as well as relevant experience in software engineering and team management.

How much do software engineer managers make?

Software engineer managers make about $129,000 annually. That's about $10,799 monthly and $62 hourly. As most jobs go, factors like location, industry, and experience can determine your exact pay.

What is a software engineering manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

Quoted experts

Yi Yang PhD,

John Russo

A software engineering manager oversees the development, design, and maintenance of software applications. They manage a team of software engineers and work with product management and quality assurance departments to ensure timely delivery of high-quality software solutions. Software engineering managers also create project plans, set goals, and provide technical guidance. They work to hire, train, and mentor software engineers. They may also meet with stakeholders to address the goals of the organization and client.

What general advice would you give to a software engineering manager?

Yi Yang PhD

Associate Professor, Pennsylvania State University - Abington

For new graduates beginning their careers in engineering, I would advise them to consider the broader impact of their work and look for opportunities to expand their management potential. While engineering is a highly technical field, it's important to recognize the value of leadership roles in preserving a culture of innovation. By taking on these positions, you can help ensure that companies prioritize long-term innovation over short-term gains (cutting R&D to boost the balance sheet), thus preserving the engineering culture that drives meaningful progress.

ScoreSoftware Engineering ManagerUS Average

Salary

8.7

Avg. Salary $140,929

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

4.0

Growth rate 21%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.0

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.17%

Asian 30.05%

Black or African American 4.31%

Hispanic or Latino 8.03%

Unknown 4.76%

White 52.69%

Gender

female 13.96%

male 86.04%

Age - 38

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 38

Stress level

4.0

Stress level is moderate

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.1

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

6.6

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a software engineering manager?

Pros

High salary and good benefits
Opportunities for career growth and advancement
Possibility of flexible work arrangements, including remote work
Access to professional development programs and training
Potential for a high level of job satisfaction and sense of accomplishment

Cons

Long hours and tight schedules can lead to burnout and fatigue
Risk of making critical decisions that may negatively impact the company or team
Frequent interruptions from team members, stakeholders, or clients
Risk of losing touch with hands-on technical skills due to managerial responsibilities
Potential for lack of autonomy or decision-making power due to organizational hierarchies.

Key steps to become a software engineering manager

Explore software engineering manager education requirements

Most common software engineering manager degrees

Bachelor's

71.4 %

Master's

19.6 %

Associate

5.6 %

Start to develop specific software engineering manager skills

Skills	Percentages
Java	17.29%
Software Development	7.28%
Software Engineering	6.76%
Emerging Technologies	4.67%
Cloud	4.51%

Complete relevant software engineering manager training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New software engineering managers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a software engineering manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real software engineering manager resumes.

Research software engineering manager duties and responsibilities

Manage plan of record (POR) and executive governance meetings.
Manage a horizontal team composes of senior system, middleware, and python engineers.
Manage all reporting to PMO office and senior management for monthly project status reporting.
Help write and review ISO procedures and are a key participant in INDUS achieving ISO certification.

Prepare your software engineering manager resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your software engineering manager resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a software engineering manager resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable software engineering manager resume templates

Build a professional software engineering manager resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your software engineering manager resume.

Apply for software engineering manager jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a software engineering manager job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

Average software engineering manager salary

The average software engineering manager salary in the United States is $140,929 per year or $68 per hour. Software engineering manager salaries range between $100,000 and $198,000 per year.

Average software engineering manager salary

$140,929 Yearly

$67.75 hourly

How do software engineering managers rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Software engineering manager reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Oct 2022

Pros

Able to see ideation to fruition and achieve success together as a team.

Cons

If company is not supportive of new technology advancement.

A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2020

Pros

Being able to solve technical problems and manage staff for work

A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2019

Pros

Solving problems with the utmost educated confidence

Cons

Indecisive colleagues and related problems because if their lack of ability and skills

What is a software engineering manager and how to become one

What general advice would you give to a software engineering manager?

What are the pros and cons of being a software engineering manager?

Software engineering manager career paths

Key steps to become a software engineering manager

Explore software engineering manager education requirements

Most common software engineering manager degrees

Start to develop specific software engineering manager skills

Complete relevant software engineering manager training and internships

Research software engineering manager duties and responsibilities

Prepare your software engineering manager resume

Choose from 10+ customizable software engineering manager resume templates

Apply for software engineering manager jobs

How did you land your first software engineering manager job

Average software engineering manager salary

How do software engineering managers rate their job?

Software engineering manager reviews

Software engineering manager FAQs

Do software engineering managers make more than software engineers?

Do software engineers need managers?

How long does it take to become a software engineering manager?

How much do software engineer managers make?

Search for software engineering manager jobs

Software engineering manager jobs by state