National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Teachers earn a national median of $63,680/year vs Dental Hygienists at $81,400/year. Dental Hygienists earn 28% more nationally. The gap is $17,720 per year — or $1,477 per month.
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Teacher
$63,680
national median/year
$5,307/mo • $31/hr
VS
Dental Hygienist
$81,400
national median/year
$6,783/mo • $39/hr
Annual salary gap
$17,720
Dental Hygienists earn 28% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $200,861.
Best states for Dental Hygienists
vs Teachers
Hawaii+$40,220
Alaska+$33,500
Washington+$33,080
Oregon+$31,460
Nevada+$30,220
Best states for Teachers
vs Dental Hygienists
New York+$-3,160
Connecticut+$-4,280
Wyoming+$-6,220
Pennsylvania+$-6,280
West Virginia+$-8,530
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Dental Hygienists earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Teachers is $63,680 versus $81,400 for Dental Hygienists — a difference of $17,720 per year or $1,477 per month.
The national median salary gap between Teachers and Dental Hygienists is $17,720 per year. Dental Hygienists earn 28% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $200,861.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, New York pays Teachers the highest median salary at $89,240 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. Elementary and Middle School Teachers 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, Teachers earn approximately $31 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.
