National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Dental Hygienists earn a national median of $81,400/year vs Veterinarians at $119,100/year. Veterinarians earn 46% more nationally. The gap is $37,700 per year — or $3,142 per month.
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Dental Hygienist
$81,400
national median/year
$6,783/mo • $39/hr
VS
Veterinarian
$119,100
national median/year
$9,925/mo • $57/hr
Annual salary gap
$37,700
Veterinarians earn 46% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $427,341.
Best states for Veterinarians
vs Dental Hygienists
New York+$43,700
Connecticut+$41,700
Maryland+$39,700
New Jersey+$39,700
Florida+$37,700
Best states for Dental Hygienists
vs Veterinarians
Alaska+$-21,700
Nevada+$-23,700
Mississippi+$-25,700
West Virginia+$-25,700
Arkansas+$-27,700
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Veterinarians earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Dental Hygienists is $81,400 versus $119,100 for Veterinarians — a difference of $37,700 per year or $3,142 per month.
The national median salary gap between Dental Hygienists and Veterinarians is $37,700 per year. Veterinarians earn 46% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $427,341.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Dental Hygienists the highest median salary at $114,400 per year.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Veterinarians the highest median salary at $148,100 per year.
Salary is one factor — Veterinarians earn more nationally. But career choice involves job satisfaction, work-life balance, education requirements, and job growth. Dental Hygienists and Veterinarians 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, Dental Hygienists earn approximately $39 per hour nationally and Veterinarians earn approximately $57 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.
