National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Physical Therapists earn a national median of $99,710/year vs Surgeons at $297,800/year. Surgeons earn 199% more nationally. The gap is $198,090 per year — or $16,508 per month.
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Physical Therapist
$99,710
national median/year
$8,309/mo • $48/hr
VS
Surgeon
$297,800
national median/year
$24,817/mo • $143/hr
Annual salary gap
$198,090
Surgeons earn 199% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $2,245,408.
Best states for Surgeons
vs Physical Therapists
New York+$225,680
California+$223,680
New Jersey+$222,680
Massachusetts+$219,680
Maryland+$218,680
Best states for Physical Therapists
vs Surgeons
Mississippi+$-175,680
West Virginia+$-177,680
Arkansas+$-179,680
Alabama+$-182,680
Louisiana+$-183,680
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Surgeons earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Physical Therapists is $99,710 versus $297,800 for Surgeons — a difference of $198,090 per year or $16,508 per month.
The national median salary gap between Physical Therapists and Surgeons is $198,090 per year. Surgeons earn 199% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $2,245,408.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Physical Therapists the highest median salary at $114,320 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. Physical Therapists 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, Physical Therapists earn approximately $48 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.
