National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Occupational Therapists earn a national median of $96,320/year vs Welders at $47,990/year. Occupational Therapists earn 50% more nationally. The gap is $48,330 per year — or $4,028 per month.
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Occupational Therapist
$96,320
national median/year
$8,027/mo • $46/hr
VS
Welder
$47,990
national median/year
$3,999/mo • $23/hr
Annual salary gap
$48,330
Occupational Therapists earn 50% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $547,835.
Best states for Welders
vs Occupational Therapists
North Dakota+$-21,330
Wyoming+$-23,330
West Virginia+$-27,330
Louisiana+$-28,330
South Dakota+$-29,330
Best states for Occupational Therapists
vs Welders
California+$53,330
Massachusetts+$49,330
Washington+$49,330
Maryland+$47,330
New Jersey+$47,330
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Occupational Therapists earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Occupational Therapists is $96,320 versus $47,990 for Welders — a difference of $48,330 per year or $4,028 per month.
The national median salary gap between Occupational Therapists and Welders is $48,330 per year. Occupational Therapists earn 50% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $547,835.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Occupational Therapists the highest median salary at $110,320 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 — Occupational Therapists earn more nationally. But career choice involves job satisfaction, work-life balance, education requirements, and job growth. Occupational Therapists 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, Occupational Therapists earn approximately $46 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.
