National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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IT Managers earn a national median of $169,510/year vs Welders at $47,990/year. IT Managers earn 72% more nationally. The gap is $121,520 per year — or $10,127 per month.
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IT Manager
$169,510
national median/year
$14,126/mo • $81/hr
VS
Welder
$47,990
national median/year
$3,999/mo • $23/hr
Annual salary gap
$121,520
IT Managers earn 72% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $1,377,465.
Best states for Welders
vs IT Managers
North Dakota+$-69,520
Wyoming+$-71,520
West Virginia+$-73,520
Mississippi+$-75,520
Alaska+$-81,520
Best states for IT Managers
vs Welders
California+$155,520
Virginia+$145,520
New York+$143,520
Massachusetts+$141,520
Washington+$141,520
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IT Managers earn more nationally. The median annual salary for IT Managers is $169,510 versus $47,990 for Welders — a difference of $121,520 per year or $10,127 per month.
The national median salary gap between IT Managers and Welders is $121,520 per year. IT Managers earn 72% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $1,377,465.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays IT Managers the highest median salary at $212,510 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 — IT Managers earn more nationally. But career choice involves job satisfaction, work-life balance, education requirements, and job growth. Computer and Information Systems Managers 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, IT Managers earn approximately $81 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.
