Median salary: $92K (Physical Therapist) vs $80K (Dental Hygienist). Salary ranges overlap between 65K–115K and 55K–105K. The take-home difference depends on state taxes, cost of living, and where in the salary range you fall.
At the national median, Physical Therapists earn $92K and Dental Hygienists earn $80K. After federal taxes and FICA (calculated without state tax to isolate the salary effect), Physical Therapists take home $73,497 vs $65,055 for Dental Hygienists.
The $12K salary advantage for Physical Therapists doesn’t translate dollar-for-dollar to take-home. Because of progressive federal tax brackets, the Physical Therapist’s higher salary is taxed at a higher marginal rate. Of the $12K gross difference, only $8,442 reaches the Physical Therapist’s pocket — the rest goes to taxes.
Physical Therapists face an effective tax rate of 20.1% at median, while Dental Hygienists pay 18.7%. The higher rate for Physical Therapists reflects more income being pushed into higher federal brackets.
The best states differ for each profession because salary adjustments vary by state cost index and interact differently with tax brackets. A state that’s great for a $92K earner may not be optimal for a $80K earner.
All 50 states showing estimated salary and take-home for both professions. Sorted by which states give Physical Therapists the largest take-home advantage over Dental Hygienists.
| State | Physical Therapist Salary | Physical Therapist Take-Home | Dental Hygienist Salary | Dental Hygienist Take-Home | Difference | Higher |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $177K | $119,550 | $154K | $105,474 | +$14,076 | Physical Therapist |
| Alaska | $117K | $91,085 | $102K | $80,532 | +$10,553 | Physical Therapist |
| California | $131K | $89,440 | $114K | $79,119 | +$10,321 | Physical Therapist |
| Massachusetts | $109K | $80,007 | $94K | $70,204 | +$9,803 | Physical Therapist |
| New York | $115K | $79,805 | $100K | $70,540 | +$9,265 | Physical Therapist |
| New Hampshire | $99K | $78,422 | $86K | $69,276 | +$9,146 | Physical Therapist |
| Washington | $101K | $79,829 | $88K | $70,683 | +$9,146 | Physical Therapist |
| New Jersey | $106K | $75,939 | $92K | $67,069 | +$8,871 | Physical Therapist |
| Virginia | $95K | $72,057 | $82K | $63,397 | +$8,660 | Physical Therapist |
| Rhode Island | $97K | $73,238 | $84K | $64,598 | +$8,639 | Physical Therapist |
| Colorado | $97K | $72,747 | $84K | $64,173 | +$8,574 | Physical Therapist |
| Connecticut | $102K | $75,898 | $89K | $67,343 | +$8,555 | Physical Therapist |
| Maryland | $103K | $75,841 | $90K | $67,376 | +$8,465 | Physical Therapist |
| Florida | $92K | $73,497 | $80K | $65,055 | +$8,442 | Physical Therapist |
| Nevada | $93K | $74,201 | $81K | $65,759 | +$8,442 | Physical Therapist |
| Texas | $86K | $69,276 | $74K | $60,834 | +$8,442 | Physical Therapist |
| Vermont | $97K | $71,498 | $84K | $63,092 | +$8,406 | Physical Therapist |
| Oregon | $101K | $71,814 | $88K | $63,700 | +$8,114 | Physical Therapist |
| Pennsylvania | $90K | $67,977 | $78K | $60,083 | +$7,894 | Physical Therapist |
| Maine | $90K | $67,907 | $78K | $60,023 | +$7,884 | Physical Therapist |
| Utah | $91K | $68,562 | $79K | $60,678 | +$7,884 | Physical Therapist |
| Illinois | $86K | $65,019 | $74K | $57,171 | +$7,848 | Physical Therapist |
| Wisconsin | $86K | $65,000 | $74K | $57,154 | +$7,845 | Physical Therapist |
| Georgia | $86K | $64,813 | $74K | $56,993 | +$7,819 | Physical Therapist |
| Delaware | $94K | $69,461 | $82K | $61,714 | +$7,747 | Physical Therapist |
| South Dakota | $85K | $68,573 | $74K | $60,834 | +$7,739 | Physical Therapist |
| Tennessee | $83K | $67,166 | $72K | $59,427 | +$7,739 | Physical Therapist |
| Wyoming | $86K | $69,276 | $75K | $61,538 | +$7,739 | Physical Therapist |
| Minnesota | $91K | $66,967 | $79K | $59,294 | +$7,674 | Physical Therapist |
| North Dakota | $85K | $67,495 | $74K | $59,896 | +$7,599 | Physical Therapist |
| Arizona | $89K | $69,162 | $78K | $61,698 | +$7,464 | Physical Therapist |
| Louisiana | $84K | $65,549 | $73K | $58,114 | +$7,435 | Physical Therapist |
| Nebraska | $84K | $65,385 | $73K | $57,972 | +$7,413 | Physical Therapist |
| Montana | $89K | $68,118 | $78K | $60,783 | +$7,335 | Physical Therapist |
| Kansas | $83K | $64,090 | $72K | $56,759 | +$7,331 | Physical Therapist |
| Iowa | $82K | $63,346 | $71K | $56,026 | +$7,321 | Physical Therapist |
| New Mexico | $84K | $64,648 | $73K | $57,331 | +$7,317 | Physical Therapist |
| North Carolina | $87K | $66,508 | $76K | $59,209 | +$7,300 | Physical Therapist |
| South Carolina | $85K | $65,037 | $74K | $57,756 | +$7,281 | Physical Therapist |
| Ohio | $83K | $63,638 | $72K | $56,367 | +$7,271 | Physical Therapist |
| Indiana | $83K | $63,472 | $72K | $56,223 | +$7,249 | Physical Therapist |
| Missouri | $82K | $62,674 | $71K | $55,443 | +$7,230 | Physical Therapist |
| Alabama | $81K | $61,911 | $70K | $54,695 | +$7,216 | Physical Therapist |
| Kentucky | $83K | $63,016 | $72K | $55,827 | +$7,189 | Physical Therapist |
| Idaho | $87K | $65,369 | $76K | $58,213 | +$7,156 | Physical Therapist |
| Michigan | $84K | $63,039 | $73K | $55,933 | +$7,106 | Physical Therapist |
| Arkansas | $79K | $62,349 | $69K | $55,567 | +$6,782 | Physical Therapist |
| Oklahoma | $80K | $62,585 | $70K | $55,859 | +$6,726 | Physical Therapist |
| Mississippi | $76K | $59,771 | $66K | $53,061 | +$6,710 | Physical Therapist |
| West Virginia | $76K | $59,712 | $66K | $53,010 | +$6,702 | Physical Therapist |
Job Security & Demand: Healthcare careers offer exceptional job security, and both Physical Therapists and Dental Hygienists are in consistent demand nationwide. Physical Therapist roles tend to be available in virtually every community, while Dental Hygienist positions may be more concentrated in urban and suburban areas. Both professions are largely recession-proof — people need healthcare regardless of economic conditions.
Growth & Advancement: The aging US population drives growth for both careers. Physical Therapist demand is projected to grow steadily through 2030+, with particular shortages in rural areas. Dental Hygienist roles are also expanding, especially as healthcare systems seek to provide more services at lower cost. Scope-of-practice expansion varies by state, which can affect earning potential.
Work-Life Balance & Lifestyle: Shift work is common for Physical Therapists, with nights, weekends, and holidays often required — though some specialties offer more predictable schedules. Dental Hygienists may have more regular hours depending on the practice setting. Both careers involve significant emotional demands. Unlike tech roles, these careers require in-person presence, limiting your ability to choose a state purely for tax benefits.