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Dental Assistant vs Dental Hygienist: pay, jobs and what each takes
Dental assistants and dental hygienists side by side: what each earns by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics and by the jobs open today, how many jobs there are, and the education and credentials each takes.
Dental Assistant vs Dental Hygienist, side by side
| Dental assistant | Dental hygienist | |
|---|---|---|
| Open jobs on this board today | 1,158 | 623 |
| Median posted hourly pay (open jobs) | $24.53 | $51.84 |
| Median hourly pay (BLS, May 2025) | $23.11 | $47.16 |
| Median yearly pay (BLS) | $48,070 | $98,100 |
| Projected employment change (BLS, 2025-2035) | +7.4% | +8.0% |
| Openings a year (BLS) | 53,000 | 15,000 |
| Typical education to enter (BLS) | Postsecondary nondegree award | Associate's degree |
| Credentials | Certified dental assistant (CDA) | Dental hygienist license (NBDHE) |
Dental Assistant vs Dental Hygienist: common questions
Who makes more, a dental assistant or a dental hygienist?
Dental hygienists, by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025): a median of $47.16 an hour ($98,100 a year), against $23.11 ($48,070 a year) for dental assistants, $24.05 an hour more. The open jobs on this board today post medians of $24.53 an hour for dental assistants and $51.84 for dental hygienists.
Are there more dental assistant or dental hygienist jobs?
On this board today: 1,158 open dental assistant jobs and 623 dental hygienist jobs, read from each employer's own job board. BLS expects about 53,000 openings a year for dental assistants and 15,000 for dental hygienists, with employment changing +7.4% and +8.0% over 2025-2035.
What is the difference between a dental assistant and a dental hygienist?
Dental assistants work chairside with the dentist: preparing patients, passing instruments, taking X-rays, sterilizing tools and sometimes scheduling. Dental hygienists clean teeth, take X-rays, screen for gum disease and teach patients how to care for their teeth, running their own schedule in dental offices.
How do you become a dental assistant or a dental hygienist?
A dental assisting program or on-the-job training; rules for X-rays and expanded duties differ by state. (BLS: Postsecondary nondegree award.) An associate or bachelor's degree in dental hygiene, then the national board and a state clinical exam. (BLS: Associate's degree.) Each occupation's page lists its credentials and who grants them: Dental assistants, Dental hygienists.
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Sources and method
Pay and outlook are BLS's figures for each occupation's main SOC code; open jobs and their posted median are this board's, counted as each occupation's own page counts them.
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025) and Employment Projections (2025-2035)
- CareJobs.Now job board: open jobs read every night from each employer's own careers site
Cite this page
CareJobs.Now. (2026). Dental Assistant vs Dental Hygienist: Pay, Jobs and Requirements Compared. Data as of 9 Nov 2026. https://carejobs.now/compare-careers/dental-assistant-vs-dental-hygienist