Pay by Role
Germany · Salary comparison

Dental Hygienist vs Optometrist salary

In Germany, a optometrist earns about 57% more than a dental hygienist $207,575 vs $132,301 per year.

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

Healthcare
Dental Hygienist
$132,301/yr
Monthly
$11,063
Hourly
$64
Range
$98,997$173,017
10-yr outlook
+9%
Pays more
Healthcare
Optometrist
$207,575/yr
Monthly
$17,336
Hourly
$100
Range
$151,576$276,121
10-yr outlook
+9%

Pay range, side by side

PercentileDental HygienistOptometrist
Entry (10th)$98,997$151,576
25th$115,649$179,518
Median$132,301$207,575
75th$152,716$241,791
Senior (90th)$173,017$276,121

National Germany figures in EUR. Individual pay varies with experience, employer, and location.

More Healthcare comparisons

Frequently asked questions

Does a dental hygienist or optometrist earn more in Germany?
A optometrist earns more, at about 182.000 € per year vs 116.000 € for a dental hygienist — roughly 57% (66.000 €) more.
What is the salary range for these roles in Germany?
A dental hygienist typically earns 86.800 €–151.700 €, while a optometrist earns 132.900 €–242.100 € per year.
How much do these jobs pay per month in Germany?
On a monthly basis before tax, a dental hygienist averages about 9.700 € and a optometrist about 15.200 €.
How do entry-level salaries compare?
At the 10th percentile in Germany, a dental hygienist earns about 86.800 € while a optometrist earns about 132.900 € per year.
How do senior-level salaries compare?
At the 90th percentile in Germany, a dental hygienist earns about 151.700 € while a optometrist earns about 242.100 € per year.
Are dental hygienist and optometrist 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.