National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Social Workers earn a national median of $54,150/year vs Welders at $47,990/year. Social Workers earn 11% more nationally. The gap is $6,160 per year — or $513 per month.
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Social Worker
$54,150
national median/year
$4,513/mo • $26/hr
VS
Welder
$47,990
national median/year
$3,999/mo • $23/hr
Annual salary gap
$6,160
Social Workers earn 11% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $69,825.
Best states for Welders
vs Social Workers
North Dakota+$10,670
Louisiana+$8,670
Wyoming+$8,670
Oklahoma+$6,670
Alaska+$4,670
Best states for Social Workers
vs Welders
California+$11,330
Arizona+$5,330
Connecticut+$5,330
Maryland+$5,330
Massachusetts+$5,330
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Social Workers earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Social Workers is $54,150 versus $47,990 for Welders — a difference of $6,160 per year or $513 per month.
The national median salary gap between Social Workers and Welders is $6,160 per year. Social Workers earn 11% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $69,825.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Social Workers the highest median salary at $68,320 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 — Social Workers earn more nationally. But career choice involves job satisfaction, work-life balance, education requirements, and job growth. Child, Family, and School Social Workers 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, Social Workers earn approximately $26 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.
