Pay by Role
Australia · Salary comparison

Dental Hygienist vs Physician salary

In Australia, a physician earns about 43% more than a dental hygienist $195,700 vs $136,712 per year.

Showing amounts in USD (USD default; source data is AUD). FX as of Mon, 13 Jul 2026 00:02:31 +0000. Convert currencies

Healthcare
Dental Hygienist
$136,712/yr
Monthly
$11,381
Hourly
$66
Range
$102,291$178,836
10-yr outlook
+9%
Pays more
Healthcare
Physician
$195,700/yr
Monthly
$16,308
Hourly
$94
Range
$125,262$281,822
10-yr outlook
+3%

Pay range, side by side

PercentileDental HygienistPhysician
Entry (10th)$102,291$125,262
25th$119,502$160,446
Median$136,712$195,700
75th$157,740$238,726
Senior (90th)$178,836$281,822

National Australia figures in AUD. Individual pay varies with experience, employer, and location.

More Healthcare comparisons

Frequently asked questions

Does a dental hygienist or physician earn more in Australia?
A physician earns more, at about $282,000 per year vs $197,000 for a dental hygienist — roughly 43% ($85,000) more.
What is the salary range for these roles in Australia?
A dental hygienist typically earns $147,400–$257,700, while a physician earns $180,500–$406,100 per year.
How much do these jobs pay per month in Australia?
On a monthly basis before tax, a dental hygienist averages about $16,400 and a physician about $23,500.
How do entry-level salaries compare?
At the 10th percentile in Australia, a dental hygienist earns about $147,400 while a physician earns about $180,500 per year.
How do senior-level salaries compare?
At the 90th percentile in Australia, a dental hygienist earns about $257,700 while a physician earns about $406,100 per year.
Are dental hygienist and physician similar careers?
Both roles sit in the Healthcare category on Pay by Role, which is why we compare them head-to-head. Day-to-day work still differs — review each job page for skills and outlook.