National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
Compare a different job:
VS
QUICK ANSWER
Welders earn a national median of $47,990/year vs Business Analysts at $99,410/year. Business Analysts earn 107% more nationally. The gap is $51,420 per year — or $4,285 per month.
Built by Pierre — MBA, Business Strategist & AI Consultant, Founder of DayblipAbout the author →
Welder
$47,990
national median/year
$3,999/mo • $23/hr
VS
Business Analyst
$99,410
national median/year
$8,284/mo • $48/hr
Annual salary gap
$51,420
Business Analysts earn 107% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $582,861.
Best states for Business Analysts
vs Welders
California+$73,420
New York+$73,420
Massachusetts+$69,420
Virginia+$69,420
Maryland+$65,420
Best states for Welders
vs Business Analysts
North Dakota+$-17,420
Wyoming+$-19,420
Alaska+$-21,420
Louisiana+$-25,420
West Virginia+$-25,420
Share Your Result
Surprised by this number? Share it with friends and family
Business Analysts earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Welders is $47,990 versus $99,410 for Business Analysts — a difference of $51,420 per year or $4,285 per month.
The national median salary gap between Welders and Business Analysts is $51,420 per year. Business Analysts earn 107% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $582,861.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, Alaska pays Welders the highest median salary at $66,990 per year.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, New York pays Business Analysts the highest median salary at $132,410 per year.
Salary is one factor — Business Analysts earn more nationally. But career choice involves job satisfaction, work-life balance, education requirements, and job growth. Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers and Management Analysts 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, Welders earn approximately $23 per hour nationally and Business Analysts earn approximately $48 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.
