National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Welders earn a national median of $47,990/year vs Human Resources Managers at $136,350/year. Human Resources Managers earn 184% more nationally. The gap is $88,360 per year — or $7,363 per month.
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Welder
$47,990
national median/year
$3,999/mo • $23/hr
VS
Human Resources Manager
$136,350
national median/year
$11,363/mo • $66/hr
Annual salary gap
$88,360
Human Resources Managers earn 184% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $1,001,587.
Best states for Human Resources Managers
vs Welders
California+$115,360
New York+$109,360
Virginia+$107,360
Massachusetts+$105,360
Maryland+$101,360
Best states for Welders
vs Human Resources Managers
North Dakota+$-41,360
Wyoming+$-43,360
West Virginia+$-47,360
Alaska+$-51,360
Mississippi+$-51,360
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Human Resources Managers earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Welders is $47,990 versus $136,350 for Human Resources Managers — a difference of $88,360 per year or $7,363 per month.
The national median salary gap between Welders and Human Resources Managers is $88,360 per year. Human Resources Managers earn 184% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $1,001,587.
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, California pays Human Resources Managers the highest median salary at $172,350 per year.
Salary is one factor — Human Resources Managers earn more nationally. But career choice involves job satisfaction, work-life balance, education requirements, and job growth. Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers and Human Resources Managers 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 Human Resources Managers earn approximately $66 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.
