Pay by Role
South Korea · Salary comparison

Dental Hygienist vs Registered Nurse salary

In South Korea, a dental hygienist earns about 130% more than a registered nurse $100,664 vs $43,814 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

Pays more
Healthcare
Dental Hygienist
$100,664/yr
Monthly
$8,389
Hourly
$48
Range
$75,297$131,668
10-yr outlook
+9%
Healthcare
Registered Nurse
$43,814/yr
Monthly
$3,651
Hourly
$21
Range
$31,985$58,273
10-yr outlook
+6%

Pay range, side by side

PercentileDental HygienistRegistered Nurse
Entry (10th)$75,297$31,985
25th$87,980$37,899
Median$100,664$43,814
75th$116,166$51,044
Senior (90th)$131,668$58,273

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 registered nurse earn more in South Korea?
A dental hygienist earns more, at about ₩151,130,000 per year vs ₩65,780,000 for a registered nurse — roughly 130% (₩85,350,000) 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 registered nurse earns ₩48,019,400–₩87,487,400 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 registered nurse about ₩5,481,700.
How do entry-level salaries compare?
At the 10th percentile in South Korea, a dental hygienist earns about ₩113,045,200 while a registered nurse earns about ₩48,019,400 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 registered nurse earns about ₩87,487,400 per year.
Are dental hygienist and registered nurse 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.