National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Doctors earn a national median of $236,000/year vs Welders at $47,990/year. Doctors earn 80% more nationally. The gap is $188,010 per year — or $15,668 per month.
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Doctor
$236,000
national median/year
$19,667/mo • $113/hr
VS
Welder
$47,990
national median/year
$3,999/mo • $23/hr
Annual salary gap
$188,010
Doctors earn 80% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $2,131,149.
Best states for Welders
vs Doctors
North Dakota+$-163,330
Wyoming+$-165,330
Arkansas+$-167,330
West Virginia+$-167,330
Louisiana+$-169,330
Best states for Doctors
vs Welders
Massachusetts+$201,330
California+$195,330
Connecticut+$195,330
Maryland+$195,330
New Jersey+$195,330
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Doctors earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Doctors is $236,000 versus $47,990 for Welders — a difference of $188,010 per year or $15,668 per month.
The national median salary gap between Doctors and Welders is $188,010 per year. Doctors earn 80% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $2,131,149.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, Massachusetts pays Doctors the highest median salary at $258,320 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 — Doctors earn more nationally. But career choice involves job satisfaction, work-life balance, education requirements, and job growth. Physicians and Surgeons 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, Doctors earn approximately $113 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.
