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This question is about what a dental hygienist does and dental hygienist.
Do dental hygienists make more than nurses?
Dental hygienists make around the same amount of money as nurses do. Registered nurses earn an average salary of $75,000 per year. Meanwhile, dental hygienists earn a median annual salary of $77,000 in a year.
Salaries often differ depending on where a person works, their education, and their experience level. However, while dental hygienists may earn around the same amount as registered nurses on average, there is typically more room for growth for nursing positions.
Nurses that fall within the highest percentile for wages earn more than $116,000 annually. Dental hygienists in the top percentile earn a salary of around $104,000 per year.
Nursing also brings more advancement opportunities. With experience and education, registered nurses can enter leadership positions or specialize in a certain area of nursing, such as pediatrics or oncology.
For dental hygienists, there are also educational and training programs available. However, beyond dental hygiene, advancement opportunities may be limited to dentistry (requiring a doctorate), health education, or becoming a medical and health services manager.
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