National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Pharmacists earn a national median of $132,750/year vs Dental Hygienists at $81,400/year. Pharmacists earn 39% more nationally. The gap is $51,350 per year — or $4,279 per month.
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Pharmacist
$132,750
national median/year
$11,063/mo • $64/hr
VS
Dental Hygienist
$81,400
national median/year
$6,783/mo • $39/hr
Annual salary gap
$51,350
Pharmacists earn 39% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $582,067.
Best states for Dental Hygienists
vs Pharmacists
California+$-33,920
Washington+$-33,920
Hawaii+$-35,920
Oregon+$-37,920
Alaska+$-39,920
Best states for Pharmacists
vs Dental Hygienists
Mississippi+$55,920
Ohio+$55,920
Wisconsin+$55,920
Alabama+$53,920
Connecticut+$53,920
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Pharmacists earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Pharmacists is $132,750 versus $81,400 for Dental Hygienists — a difference of $51,350 per year or $4,279 per month.
The national median salary gap between Pharmacists and Dental Hygienists is $51,350 per year. Pharmacists earn 39% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $582,067.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Pharmacists the highest median salary at $148,320 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 — Pharmacists earn more nationally. But career choice involves job satisfaction, work-life balance, education requirements, and job growth. Pharmacists 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, Pharmacists earn approximately $64 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.
