SalaryByCity

Dental Hygienists vs Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses: Salary Comparison (2024)

Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Dental Hygienists

$94,260

Median annual salary

219,070 employed nationally

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses

$62,340

Median annual salary

632,430 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Dental Hygienists professionals earn $31,920 more per year than Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses professionals — that's 51.2% higher. At the 90th percentile, Dental Hygienists earns $120,060 compared to $80,510 for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses.

Salary Range Comparison

Dental Hygienists$66,470 – $120,060
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$47,960 – $80,510
$47,960$120,060

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileDental HygienistsLicensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesDifference
10th Percentile$66,470$47,960+$18,510
25th Percentile$80,060$55,220+$24,840
Median (50th)$94,260$62,340+$31,920
75th Percentile$102,920$73,160+$29,760
90th Percentile$120,060$80,510+$39,550
Mean (Average)$93,890$64,150+$29,740

Employment Numbers

Dental Hygienists

219,070

employed nationwide

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses

632,430

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

Best Cities for Dental Hygienists

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$135,010
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$131,890
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$121,310
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$120,300
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$118,950

Best Cities for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$92,840
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$90,810
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$80,480
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$79,460
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$78,870

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more: Dental Hygienists or Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses?
Dental Hygienists professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $31,920 (51.2% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Dental Hygienists?
Dental Hygienists salaries range from $66,470 (10th percentile) to $120,060 (90th percentile), with a median of $94,260.
What is the salary range for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses?
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses salaries range from $47,960 (10th percentile) to $80,510 (90th percentile), with a median of $62,340.
How many Dental Hygienists and Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses jobs are there?
There are approximately 219,070 Dental Hygienists positions and 632,430 Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses to Dental Hygienists?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Dental Hygienists has a median salary of $94,260 while Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses earns $62,340. Consider job satisfaction, growth prospects, required education, and work-life balance.

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Data verified March 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS