National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
Compare a different job:
VS
QUICK ANSWER
Electricians earn a national median of $61,590/year vs Surgeons at $297,800/year. Surgeons earn 384% more nationally. The gap is $236,210 per year — or $19,684 per month.
Built by Pierre — MBA, Business Strategist & AI Consultant, Founder of DayblipAbout the author →
Electrician
$61,590
national median/year
$5,133/mo • $30/hr
VS
Surgeon
$297,800
national median/year
$24,817/mo • $143/hr
Annual salary gap
$236,210
Surgeons earn 384% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $2,677,510.
Best states for Surgeons
vs Electricians
California+$255,680
Maryland+$248,680
Virginia+$247,680
New Jersey+$246,680
Connecticut+$245,680
Best states for Electricians
vs Surgeons
Mississippi+$-201,680
West Virginia+$-203,680
North Dakota+$-205,680
Louisiana+$-207,680
Arkansas+$-209,680
Share Your Result
Surprised by this number? Share it with friends and family
Surgeons earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Electricians is $61,590 versus $297,800 for Surgeons — a difference of $236,210 per year or $19,684 per month.
The national median salary gap between Electricians and Surgeons is $236,210 per year. Surgeons earn 384% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $2,677,510.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, Alaska pays Electricians the highest median salary at $84,320 per year.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Surgeons the highest median salary at $338,000 per year.
Salary is one factor — Surgeons earn more nationally. But career choice involves job satisfaction, work-life balance, education requirements, and job growth. Electricians and Surgeons 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, Electricians earn approximately $30 per hour nationally and Surgeons earn approximately $143 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.
