National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Dentists earn a national median of $175,500/year vs Welders at $47,990/year. Dentists earn 73% more nationally. The gap is $127,510 per year — or $10,626 per month.
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Dentist
$175,500
national median/year
$14,625/mo • $84/hr
VS
Welder
$47,990
national median/year
$3,999/mo • $23/hr
Annual salary gap
$127,510
Dentists earn 73% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $1,445,363.
Best states for Welders
vs Dentists
Mississippi+$-95,330
Arkansas+$-97,330
Oklahoma+$-97,330
West Virginia+$-97,330
Louisiana+$-99,330
Best states for Dentists
vs Welders
California+$141,330
Connecticut+$135,330
Massachusetts+$135,330
New York+$133,330
Hawaii+$131,330
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Dentists earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Dentists is $175,500 versus $47,990 for Welders — a difference of $127,510 per year or $10,626 per month.
The national median salary gap between Dentists and Welders is $127,510 per year. Dentists earn 73% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $1,445,363.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Dentists the highest median salary at $198,320 per year.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, Alaska pays Welders the highest median salary at $66,990 per year.
Salary is one factor — Dentists earn more nationally. But career choice involves job satisfaction, work-life balance, education requirements, and job growth. Dentists, General and Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers both have different educational paths, licensing requirements, and long-term growth projections. Use salary as a starting point, not the only factor.
Based on a standard 2,080-hour work year, Dentists earn approximately $84 per hour nationally and Welders earn approximately $23 per hour. Actual hourly rates vary based on overtime, part-time work, and whether the role is salaried or hourly.
Methodology: Salary data from Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024-2025. Figures represent median annual wages for wage and salary workers. Self-employed excluded. Hourly rates calculated at 2,080 hours per year. State salary figures from same BLS OES dataset. Updated annually.
