National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Firefighters earn a national median of $58,290/year vs Dental Hygienists at $81,400/year. Dental Hygienists earn 40% more nationally. The gap is $23,110 per year — or $1,926 per month.
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Firefighter
$58,290
national median/year
$4,858/mo • $28/hr
VS
Dental Hygienist
$81,400
national median/year
$6,783/mo • $39/hr
Annual salary gap
$23,110
Dental Hygienists earn 40% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $261,959.
Best states for Dental Hygienists
vs Firefighters
Washington+$34,080
New Hampshire+$32,080
Oregon+$32,080
Alaska+$30,080
Hawaii+$30,080
Best states for Firefighters
vs Dental Hygienists
Connecticut+$-16,080
Illinois+$-16,080
Wyoming+$-16,080
Mississippi+$-18,080
New Jersey+$-18,080
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Dental Hygienists earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Firefighters is $58,290 versus $81,400 for Dental Hygienists — a difference of $23,110 per year or $1,926 per month.
The national median salary gap between Firefighters and Dental Hygienists is $23,110 per year. Dental Hygienists earn 40% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $261,959.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Firefighters the highest median salary at $88,320 per year.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Dental Hygienists the highest median salary at $114,400 per year.
Salary is one factor — Dental Hygienists earn more nationally. But career choice involves job satisfaction, work-life balance, education requirements, and job growth. Firefighters and Dental Hygienists 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, Firefighters earn approximately $28 per hour nationally and Dental Hygienists earn approximately $39 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.
