National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Welders earn a national median of $47,990/year vs Pilots at $203,010/year. Pilots earn 323% more nationally. The gap is $155,020 per year — or $12,918 per month.
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Welder
$47,990
national median/year
$3,999/mo • $23/hr
VS
Pilot
$203,010
national median/year
$16,918/mo • $98/hr
Annual salary gap
$155,020
Pilots earn 323% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $1,757,197.
Best states for Pilots
vs Welders
California+$181,020
New York+$169,020
Virginia+$167,020
Washington+$167,020
Maryland+$165,020
Best states for Welders
vs Pilots
North Dakota+$-103,020
West Virginia+$-107,020
Wyoming+$-109,020
Arkansas+$-111,020
Mississippi+$-111,020
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Pilots earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Welders is $47,990 versus $203,010 for Pilots — a difference of $155,020 per year or $12,918 per month.
The national median salary gap between Welders and Pilots is $155,020 per year. Pilots earn 323% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $1,757,197.
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 Pilots the highest median salary at $238,010 per year.
Salary is one factor — Pilots earn more nationally. But career choice involves job satisfaction, work-life balance, education requirements, and job growth. Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers 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, Welders earn approximately $23 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.
