National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
Compare a different job:
VS
QUICK ANSWER
Police Officers earn a national median of $72,280/year vs Surgeons at $297,800/year. Surgeons earn 312% more nationally. The gap is $225,520 per year — or $18,793 per month.
Built by Pierre — MBA, Business Strategist & AI Consultant, Founder of DayblipAbout the author →
Police Officer
$72,280
national median/year
$6,023/mo • $35/hr
VS
Surgeon
$297,800
national median/year
$24,817/mo • $143/hr
Annual salary gap
$225,520
Surgeons earn 312% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $2,556,336.
Best states for Surgeons
vs Police Officers
New York+$243,680
Virginia+$243,680
Washington+$237,680
Maryland+$236,680
New Hampshire+$235,680
Best states for Police Officers
vs Surgeons
Mississippi+$-201,680
West Virginia+$-205,680
Wyoming+$-205,680
Arkansas+$-207,680
Louisiana+$-209,680
Share Your Result
Surprised by this number? Share it with friends and family
Surgeons earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Police Officers is $72,280 versus $297,800 for Surgeons — a difference of $225,520 per year or $18,793 per month.
The national median salary gap between Police Officers and Surgeons is $225,520 per year. Surgeons earn 312% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $2,556,336.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Police Officers the highest median salary at $108,320 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. Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers 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, Police Officers earn approximately $35 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.
