Pay by Role
South Korea · Salary comparison

Dental Hygienist vs Dentist salary

In South Korea, a dentist earns about 116% more than a dental hygienist $216,974 vs $100,664 per year.

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

Healthcare
Dental Hygienist
$100,664/yr
Monthly
$8,389
Hourly
$48
Range
$75,297$131,668
10-yr outlook
+9%
Pays more
Healthcare
Dentist
$216,974/yr
Monthly
$18,081
Hourly
$104
Range
$148,627$300,509
10-yr outlook
+4%

Pay range, side by side

PercentileDental HygienistDentist
Entry (10th)$75,297$148,627
25th$87,980$182,801
Median$100,664$216,974
75th$116,166$258,742
Senior (90th)$131,668$300,509

National South Korea figures in KRW. Individual pay varies with experience, employer, and location.

More Healthcare comparisons

Frequently asked questions

Does a dental hygienist or dentist earn more in South Korea?
A dentist earns more, at about ₩325,750,000 per year vs ₩151,130,000 for a dental hygienist — roughly 116% (₩174,620,000) more.
What is the salary range for these roles in South Korea?
A dental hygienist typically earns ₩113,045,200–₩197,678,000, while a dentist earns ₩223,138,800–₩451,163,800 per year.
How much do these jobs pay per month in South Korea?
On a monthly basis before tax, a dental hygienist averages about ₩12,594,200 and a dentist about ₩27,145,800.
How do entry-level salaries compare?
At the 10th percentile in South Korea, a dental hygienist earns about ₩113,045,200 while a dentist earns about ₩223,138,800 per year.
How do senior-level salaries compare?
At the 90th percentile in South Korea, a dental hygienist earns about ₩197,678,000 while a dentist earns about ₩451,163,800 per year.
Are dental hygienist and dentist 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.