National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Physical Therapists earn a national median of $99,710/year vs Dental Hygienists at $81,400/year. Physical Therapists earn 18% more nationally. The gap is $18,310 per year — or $1,526 per month.
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Physical Therapist
$99,710
national median/year
$8,309/mo • $48/hr
VS
Dental Hygienist
$81,400
national median/year
$6,783/mo • $39/hr
Annual salary gap
$18,310
Physical Therapists earn 18% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $207,549.
Best states for Dental Hygienists
vs Physical Therapists
California+$80
Washington+$80
Oregon+$-1,920
Alaska+$-5,920
Hawaii+$-5,920
Best states for Physical Therapists
vs Dental Hygienists
Alabama+$17,920
Connecticut+$17,920
Ohio+$17,920
Wisconsin+$17,920
Arkansas+$15,920
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Physical Therapists earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Physical Therapists is $99,710 versus $81,400 for Dental Hygienists — a difference of $18,310 per year or $1,526 per month.
The national median salary gap between Physical Therapists and Dental Hygienists is $18,310 per year. Physical Therapists earn 18% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $207,549.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Physical Therapists the highest median salary at $114,320 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 — Physical Therapists earn more nationally. But career choice involves job satisfaction, work-life balance, education requirements, and job growth. Physical Therapists 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, Physical Therapists earn approximately $48 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.
