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The differences between hygienists and dental assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a hygienist has an average salary of $83,134, which is higher than the $37,730 average annual salary of a dental assistant.
The top three skills for a hygienist include patients, oral health and patient education. The most important skills for a dental assistant are patients, patient care, and CPR.
| Hygienist | Dental Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $83,134 | $37,730 |
| Hourly rate | $39.97 | $18.14 |
| Growth rate | 11% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 13,991 | 69,835 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 58% | Associate Degree, 23% |
| Average age | 42 | 38 |
| Years of experience | - | 2 |
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 assistants provide patient care, have the ability to take x-rays, blood pressure readings, and help dentists perform treatments and procedures. They also keep patients' dental records, schedule appointments, prepare and maintain materials and equipment. They may conduct tests that are not much complicated and would not require the supervision of a dentist or dental surgeon. They also may administer and dispense medications to patients under the doctor's orders. Most dental assistants work in dentists' offices as full time in dental practice, but they can specialize and get employment in orthodontic or periodontist offices and other practices.
Hygienists and dental assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Hygienist | Dental Assistant | |
| Average salary | $83,134 | $37,730 |
| Salary range | Between $59,000 And $116,000 | Between $28,000 And $50,000 |
| Highest paying City | Petaluma, CA | Saint Paul, MN |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Private Practice | Alameda Health System |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Government |
There are a few differences between a hygienist and a dental assistant in terms of educational background:
| Hygienist | Dental Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 58% | Associate Degree, 23% |
| Most common major | Dental Assisting | Dental Assisting |
| Most common college | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor | - |
Here are the differences between hygienists' and dental assistants' demographics:
| Hygienist | Dental Assistant | |
| Average age | 42 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 15.2% Female, 84.8% | Male, 11.5% Female, 88.5% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 8.3% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 24.4% Asian, 9.1% White, 52.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 4% |