National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Plumbers earn a national median of $61,550/year vs Dental Hygienists at $81,400/year. Dental Hygienists earn 32% more nationally. The gap is $19,850 per year — or $1,654 per month.
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Plumber
$61,550
national median/year
$5,129/mo • $30/hr
VS
Dental Hygienist
$81,400
national median/year
$6,783/mo • $39/hr
Annual salary gap
$19,850
Dental Hygienists earn 32% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $225,006.
Best states for Dental Hygienists
vs Plumbers
California+$36,080
Washington+$32,080
Oregon+$30,080
Arizona+$28,080
Nevada+$26,080
Best states for Plumbers
vs Dental Hygienists
Illinois+$-8,080
North Dakota+$-8,080
Michigan+$-10,080
Missouri+$-10,080
New York+$-10,080
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Dental Hygienists earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Plumbers is $61,550 versus $81,400 for Dental Hygienists — a difference of $19,850 per year or $1,654 per month.
The national median salary gap between Plumbers and Dental Hygienists is $19,850 per year. Dental Hygienists earn 32% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $225,006.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, Alaska pays Plumbers the highest median salary at $82,320 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. Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters 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, Plumbers earn approximately $30 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.
