SalaryByCity

Dental Hygienists vs Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education: 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

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

$64,580

Median annual salary

1,072,540 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Dental Hygienists professionals earn $29,680 more per year than Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education professionals — that's 46.0% higher. At the 90th percentile, Dental Hygienists earns $120,060 compared to $104,670 for Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education.

Salary Range Comparison

Dental Hygienists$66,470 – $120,060
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$47,330 – $104,670
$47,330$120,060

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileDental HygienistsSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationDifference
10th Percentile$66,470$47,330+$19,140
25th Percentile$80,060$57,800+$22,260
Median (50th)$94,260$64,580+$29,680
75th Percentile$102,920$83,010+$19,910
90th Percentile$120,060$104,670+$15,390
Mean (Average)$93,890$73,700+$20,190

Employment Numbers

Dental Hygienists

219,070

employed nationwide

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

1,072,540

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 Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$103,640
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$103,640
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$99,840
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$99,740
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$99,530

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more: Dental Hygienists or Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education?
Dental Hygienists professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $29,680 (46.0% 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 Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education?
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salaries range from $47,330 (10th percentile) to $104,670 (90th percentile), with a median of $64,580.
How many Dental Hygienists and Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education jobs are there?
There are approximately 219,070 Dental Hygienists positions and 1,072,540 Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education to Dental Hygienists?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Dental Hygienists has a median salary of $94,260 while Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education earns $64,580. 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