National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Physical Therapists earn a national median of $99,710/year vs Welders at $47,990/year. Physical Therapists earn 52% more nationally. The gap is $51,720 per year — or $4,310 per month.
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Physical Therapist
$99,710
national median/year
$8,309/mo • $48/hr
VS
Welder
$47,990
national median/year
$3,999/mo • $23/hr
Annual salary gap
$51,720
Physical Therapists earn 52% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $586,261.
Best states for Welders
vs Physical Therapists
Louisiana+$-29,330
North Dakota+$-29,330
Wyoming+$-31,330
Oklahoma+$-33,330
South Dakota+$-33,330
Best states for Physical Therapists
vs Welders
California+$57,330
Arizona+$51,330
Connecticut+$49,330
Colorado+$47,330
Delaware+$47,330
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Physical Therapists earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Physical Therapists is $99,710 versus $47,990 for Welders — a difference of $51,720 per year or $4,310 per month.
The national median salary gap between Physical Therapists and Welders is $51,720 per year. Physical Therapists earn 52% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $586,261.
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, Alaska pays Welders the highest median salary at $66,990 per year.
Salary is one factor — Physical Therapists earn more nationally. But career choice involves job satisfaction, work-life balance, education requirements, and job growth. Physical 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, Physical Therapists earn approximately $48 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.
