National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Project Managers earn a national median of $98,580/year vs Dental Hygienists at $81,400/year. Project Managers earn 17% more nationally. The gap is $17,180 per year — or $1,432 per month.
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Project Manager
$98,580
national median/year
$8,215/mo • $47/hr
VS
Dental Hygienist
$81,400
national median/year
$6,783/mo • $39/hr
Annual salary gap
$17,180
Project Managers earn 17% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $194,740.
Best states for Dental Hygienists
vs Project Managers
Hawaii+$14,080
Alaska+$10,080
Nevada+$4,080
Oregon+$-1,920
Maine+$-5,920
Best states for Project Managers
vs Dental Hygienists
New York+$25,920
Connecticut+$23,920
Virginia+$23,920
Massachusetts+$21,920
Texas+$21,920
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Project Managers earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Project Managers is $98,580 versus $81,400 for Dental Hygienists — a difference of $17,180 per year or $1,432 per month.
The national median salary gap between Project Managers and Dental Hygienists is $17,180 per year. Project Managers earn 17% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $194,740.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Project Managers the highest median salary at $122,320 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 — Project Managers earn more nationally. But career choice involves job satisfaction, work-life balance, education requirements, and job growth. Project Management Specialists 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, Project Managers earn approximately $47 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.
