National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Project Managers earn a national median of $98,580/year vs Welders at $47,990/year. Project Managers earn 51% more nationally. The gap is $50,590 per year — or $4,216 per month.
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Project Manager
$98,580
national median/year
$8,215/mo • $47/hr
VS
Welder
$47,990
national median/year
$3,999/mo • $23/hr
Annual salary gap
$50,590
Project Managers earn 51% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $573,453.
Best states for Welders
vs Project Managers
North Dakota+$-21,330
Wyoming+$-23,330
Alaska+$-25,330
Hawaii+$-27,330
Louisiana+$-27,330
Best states for Project Managers
vs Welders
California+$65,330
Massachusetts+$61,330
New York+$59,330
Virginia+$57,330
Washington+$57,330
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Project Managers earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Project Managers is $98,580 versus $47,990 for Welders — a difference of $50,590 per year or $4,216 per month.
The national median salary gap between Project Managers and Welders is $50,590 per year. Project Managers earn 51% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $573,453.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Project Managers the highest median salary at $122,320 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 — Project Managers earn more nationally. But career choice involves job satisfaction, work-life balance, education requirements, and job growth. Project Management Specialists 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, Project Managers earn approximately $47 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.
