Pay by Role
South Korea · Salary comparison

Dental Hygienist vs Physician salary

In South Korea, a physician earns about 21% more than a dental hygienist $121,699 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
Physician
$121,699/yr
Monthly
$10,142
Hourly
$59
Range
$77,887$175,246
10-yr outlook
+3%

Pay range, side by side

PercentileDental HygienistPhysician
Entry (10th)$75,297$77,887
25th$87,980$99,793
Median$100,664$121,699
75th$116,166$148,472
Senior (90th)$131,668$175,246

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 physician earn more in South Korea?
A physician earns more, at about ₩182,710,000 per year vs ₩151,130,000 for a dental hygienist — roughly 21% (₩31,580,000) 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 physician earns ₩116,934,400–₩263,102,400 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 physician about ₩15,225,800.
How do entry-level salaries compare?
At the 10th percentile in South Korea, a dental hygienist earns about ₩113,045,200 while a physician earns about ₩116,934,400 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 physician earns about ₩263,102,400 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.