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The differences between dental hygienists and hygienists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a dental hygienist has an average salary of $88,432, which is higher than the $83,134 average annual salary of a hygienist.
The top three skills for a dental hygienist include patients, patient care and CPR. The most important skills for a hygienist are patients, oral health, and patient education.
| Dental Hygienist | Hygienist | |
| Yearly salary | $88,432 | $83,134 |
| Hourly rate | $42.52 | $39.97 |
| Growth rate | 11% | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 24,234 | 13,991 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 71% | Associate Degree, 58% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
Dental hygienists are professionals who provide preventative oral care under a dentist's supervision. They are concerned mostly in treating minor oral health conditions. They clean teeth, examine any signs of damage and oral diseases and provide dental recommendations and after-care treatment. They educate patients with proper oral hygiene and counseling about how good nutrition impacts oral health. They also teach them ways to improve and maintain good oral health.
The Hygienist is a specialist in the promotion of clean conditions for the preservation of health. They work in various environments, from factories and building sites to offices.
Dental hygienists and hygienists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Dental Hygienist | Hygienist | |
| Average salary | $88,432 | $83,134 |
| Salary range | Between $56,000 And $137,000 | Between $59,000 And $116,000 |
| Highest paying City | Sacramento, CA | Petaluma, CA |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | Bonita | Private Practice |
| Best paying industry | - | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a dental hygienist and a hygienist in terms of educational background:
| Dental Hygienist | Hygienist | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 71% | Associate Degree, 58% |
| Most common major | Dental Assisting | Dental Assisting |
| Most common college | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor |
Here are the differences between dental hygienists' and hygienists' demographics:
| Dental Hygienist | Hygienist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 6.9% Female, 93.1% | Male, 15.2% Female, 84.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.7% Unknown, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 12.0% Asian, 6.3% White, 73.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 3.7% Unknown, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 11.6% Asian, 6.1% White, 74.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |