National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Welders earn a national median of $47,990/year vs Real Estate Agents at $61,480/year. Real Estate Agents earn 28% more nationally. The gap is $13,490 per year — or $1,124 per month.
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Welder
$47,990
national median/year
$3,999/mo • $23/hr
VS
Real Estate Agent
$61,480
national median/year
$5,123/mo • $30/hr
Annual salary gap
$13,490
Real Estate Agents earn 28% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $152,913.
Best states for Real Estate Agents
vs Welders
California+$25,490
New York+$23,490
Maryland+$19,490
Colorado+$17,490
Massachusetts+$17,490
Best states for Welders
vs Real Estate Agents
North Dakota+$10,510
Wyoming+$8,510
Alaska+$4,510
Louisiana+$4,510
West Virginia+$2,510
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Real Estate Agents earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Welders is $47,990 versus $61,480 for Real Estate Agents — a difference of $13,490 per year or $1,124 per month.
The national median salary gap between Welders and Real Estate Agents is $13,490 per year. Real Estate Agents earn 28% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $152,913.
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 Real Estate Agents the highest median salary at $82,480 per year.
Salary is one factor — Real Estate Agents earn more nationally. But career choice involves job satisfaction, work-life balance, education requirements, and job growth. Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers and Real Estate Sales Agents 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 Real Estate Agents earn approximately $30 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.
