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The differences between hygienists and nurses 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 $57,564 average annual salary of a nurse.
The top three skills for a hygienist include patients, oral health and patient education. The most important skills for a nurse are patients, home health, and CPR.
| Hygienist | Nurse | |
| Yearly salary | $83,134 | $57,564 |
| Hourly rate | $39.97 | $27.68 |
| Growth rate | 11% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 13,991 | 696,124 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 43% |
| Average age | 42 | 44 |
| 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.
Nurses are medical professionals assigned to a specific department in the hospital and provide their trusted department services. Nurses are in charge of taking patients' medical histories, getting vital signs, preparing patients for checkups or procedures, explaining upcoming practices, answering any questions, and communicating any concerns to the assigned doctor. Nurses should ensure that patients follow the medical advice given to them. They also assist patients in completing administrative requirements, such as filling out forms, validating details, and endorsing payments.
Hygienists and nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Hygienist | Nurse | |
| Average salary | $83,134 | $57,564 |
| Salary range | Between $59,000 And $116,000 | Between $38,000 And $86,000 |
| Highest paying City | Petaluma, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | California |
| Best paying company | Private Practice | Conviva |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Government |
There are a few differences between a hygienist and a nurse in terms of educational background:
| Hygienist | Nurse | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 43% |
| Most common major | Dental Assisting | Nursing |
| Most common college | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor | Duke University |
Here are the differences between hygienists' and nurses' demographics:
| Hygienist | Nurse | |
| Average age | 42 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 15.2% Female, 84.8% | Male, 14.0% Female, 86.0% |
| 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, 11.5% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 9% |