SalaryByCity

Dental Hygienists vs Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare: Salary Comparison (2024)

Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Dental Hygienists

$94,260

Median annual salary

219,070 employed nationally

Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare

$56,270

Median annual salary

71,620 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Dental Hygienists professionals earn $37,990 more per year than Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare professionals — that's 67.5% higher. At the 90th percentile, Dental Hygienists earns $120,060 compared to $96,400 for Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare.

Salary Range Comparison

Dental Hygienists$66,470 – $120,060
Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare$37,060 – $96,400
$37,060$120,060

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileDental HygienistsEducation and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and DaycareDifference
10th Percentile$66,470$37,060+$29,410
25th Percentile$80,060$45,310+$34,750
Median (50th)$94,260$56,270+$37,990
75th Percentile$102,920$72,690+$30,230
90th Percentile$120,060$96,400+$23,660
Mean (Average)$93,890$62,640+$31,250

Employment Numbers

Dental Hygienists

219,070

employed nationwide

Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare

71,620

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

Best Cities for Dental Hygienists

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$135,010
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$131,890
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$121,310
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$120,300
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$118,950

Best Cities for Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare

CityMedian
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA$79,000
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$77,390
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO$64,180
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$62,530
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$61,880

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more: Dental Hygienists or Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare?
Dental Hygienists professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $37,990 (67.5% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Dental Hygienists?
Dental Hygienists salaries range from $66,470 (10th percentile) to $120,060 (90th percentile), with a median of $94,260.
What is the salary range for Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare?
Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare salaries range from $37,060 (10th percentile) to $96,400 (90th percentile), with a median of $56,270.
How many Dental Hygienists and Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare jobs are there?
There are approximately 219,070 Dental Hygienists positions and 71,620 Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare to Dental Hygienists?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Dental Hygienists has a median salary of $94,260 while Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare earns $56,270. Consider job satisfaction, growth prospects, required education, and work-life balance.

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Data verified March 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS