National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Surgeons earn a national median of $297,800/year vs Pilots at $203,010/year. Surgeons earn 32% more nationally. The gap is $94,790 per year — or $7,899 per month.
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Surgeon
$297,800
national median/year
$24,817/mo • $143/hr
VS
Pilot
$203,010
national median/year
$16,918/mo • $98/hr
Annual salary gap
$94,790
Surgeons earn 32% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $1,074,473.
Best states for Pilots
vs Surgeons
Georgia+$-79,990
Florida+$-88,990
Hawaii+$-89,990
Virginia+$-89,990
Arizona+$-91,990
Best states for Surgeons
vs Pilots
North Dakota+$109,990
South Dakota+$109,990
Montana+$107,990
Nebraska+$106,990
Arkansas+$105,990
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Surgeons earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Surgeons is $297,800 versus $203,010 for Pilots — a difference of $94,790 per year or $7,899 per month.
The national median salary gap between Surgeons and Pilots is $94,790 per year. Surgeons earn 32% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $1,074,473.
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 Pilots the highest median salary at $238,010 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 Airline and Commercial Pilots 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 Pilots earn approximately $98 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.
