National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
Compare a different job:
VS
QUICK ANSWER
Surgeons earn a national median of $297,800/year vs Machine Learning Engineers at $158,000/year. Surgeons earn 47% more nationally. The gap is $139,800 per year — or $11,650 per month.
Built by Pierre — MBA, Business Strategist & AI Consultant, Founder of DayblipAbout the author →
Surgeon
$297,800
national median/year
$24,817/mo • $143/hr
VS
Machine Learning Engineer
$158,000
national median/year
$13,167/mo • $76/hr
Annual salary gap
$139,800
Surgeons earn 47% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $1,584,674.
Best states for Machine Learning Engineers
vs Surgeons
Washington+$-124,000
California+$-126,000
Georgia+$-128,000
Virginia+$-128,000
Colorado+$-134,000
Best states for Surgeons
vs Machine Learning Engineers
Alaska+$180,000
Hawaii+$168,000
Connecticut+$156,000
North Dakota+$156,000
South Dakota+$156,000
Share Your Result
Surprised by this number? Share it with friends and family
Surgeons earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Surgeons is $297,800 versus $158,000 for Machine Learning Engineers — a difference of $139,800 per year or $11,650 per month.
The national median salary gap between Surgeons and Machine Learning Engineers is $139,800 per year. Surgeons earn 47% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $1,584,674.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Surgeons the highest median salary at $338,000 per year.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Machine Learning Engineers the highest median salary at $212,000 per year.
Salary is one factor — Surgeons earn more nationally. But career choice involves job satisfaction, work-life balance, education requirements, and job growth. Surgeons and Computer and Information Research Scientists 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, Surgeons earn approximately $143 per hour nationally and Machine Learning Engineers earn approximately $76 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.
