Same work.
Different pay.
Industries don't pay for titles, they pay for what your skills are worth to them. Pick a role and see where it commands the most.
Highest-paying sector for Software Engineer
Private Sector (Corporate) pays $127,400, 20% above the cross-industry average of $106,300.
The spread between the top and bottom sector for this role is 47%. Switching industries, not jobs, is often the single largest pay move available.
Median base salary by industry, Software Engineer
Blue bars mark the three highest-paying sectors
The full index
Private Sector (Corporate)
Highest base bands and bonus-eligible total comp; pay moves with performance, not tenure.
$127,400
+20%
88/100
+5.2%
Startups & Early Stage
Lower base offset by equity and fast title growth; risk-adjusted, the upside is the lever.
$118,800
+12%
80/100
+9.4%
Federal Government
Stable GS-style pay bands with strong benefits and pensions; base climbs slowly with step increases.
$108,000
+2%
70/100
+2.4%
Academia & Education
Structured pay scales tied to degrees and tenure; summers and pensions sit outside base salary.
$90,700
-15%
64/100
+1.1%
Non-Profit & NGO
Mission-driven pay trade-off; grant-funded roles vary, but benefits and stability offset lower base.
$86,400
-19%
58/100
+1.9%
Found a sector that pays more for your work? Check which of your skills transfer before you make the leap.
Map my transferable skills