Software Developers
$136k
middle pay a year
- 10th percentile
- $82,460
- Middle (median)
- $135,980
- 90th percentile
- $214,670
Compare
U.S. pay for both jobs, from the same survey.
Registered Nurses
$98k
middle pay a year
- 10th percentile
- $68,940
- Middle (median)
- $97,550
- 90th percentile
- $137,470
Software Developers has $38,430 more in middle pay a year.
Pay ranges describe workers in a survey. They do not predict an offer or a raise. A + means BLS published a lower bound. Living costs are separate from these wages.
Compare living costs too
Use BLS pay and BEA regional price levels to compare the same job in two places.
How to compare jobs and cities
MLWritten by the MeritLog team ·
Comparing side by side helps you make a clear choice. Here's how to read the compare view.
The short version
- Compare middle pay first.
- Then look at the 10th and 90th percentile steps.
- For cities, check pay after living costs.
01 · Two jobs
Comparing two jobs
When you compare two jobs, look at more than middle pay. A wider range means more variation across surveyed workers. It does not measure promotion prospects or job stability.
Also think about what each job needs. Do you have wins that show those skills? If not, which one could you build faster?
02 · Two cities
Comparing two cities
For cities, the big question is how far your pay goes. A higher number in a costly city can be worth less than a smaller number in a cheaper one.
Use the compare view on any job page to see middle pay and "feels like" pay side by side.
03 · Decide
A short checklist before you decide
Numbers help, but they are not the whole story.
- Which pays more in the middle?
- Which has more room at the top?
- Which goes further after living costs?
- Which has more jobs open today?
- Which fits your life?
Ready to use this?
Save your wins. Then find a job and make a résumé from them.