SalaryByCity

Dental Hygienists vs Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers: 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

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers

$59,810

Median annual salary

396,870 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Dental Hygienists professionals earn $34,450 more per year than Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers professionals — that's 57.6% higher. At the 90th percentile, Dental Hygienists earns $120,060 compared to $91,020 for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers.

Salary Range Comparison

Dental Hygienists$66,470 – $120,060
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$39,130 – $91,020
$39,130$120,060

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileDental HygienistsHeating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersDifference
10th Percentile$66,470$39,130+$27,340
25th Percentile$80,060$47,850+$32,210
Median (50th)$94,260$59,810+$34,450
75th Percentile$102,920$74,820+$28,100
90th Percentile$120,060$91,020+$29,040
Mean (Average)$93,890$62,690+$31,200

Employment Numbers

Dental Hygienists

219,070

employed nationwide

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers

396,870

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 Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$83,980
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH$77,600
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$76,760
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI$76,090
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$75,500

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more: Dental Hygienists or Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers?
Dental Hygienists professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $34,450 (57.6% 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 Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers?
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers salaries range from $39,130 (10th percentile) to $91,020 (90th percentile), with a median of $59,810.
How many Dental Hygienists and Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers jobs are there?
There are approximately 219,070 Dental Hygienists positions and 396,870 Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers to Dental Hygienists?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Dental Hygienists has a median salary of $94,260 while Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers earns $59,810. 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