Three RoutesCompare · Ontario figures · updated 2 November 2026
Dental hygiene vs Early childhood education
Same columns, no opinion about which is better for you. On typical Ontario figures, Dental hygiene is ahead by year 10 ($528k against $316k), because it pays more per year once you are working. The gap is before tax, rent and loan interest, which hit both routes. Early childhood education gets to a real paycheque first (about 2 years). Early childhood education costs $20,500 less to get into.
| Measure | Dental hygiene | Early childhood education |
|---|---|---|
| Route | College diploma | College diploma |
| Credential | Ontario College Advanced Diploma | Ontario College Diploma |
| Years to finish | 3 | 2 |
| First real paycheque | About 3 years | About 2 years |
| Cost (tuition and fees) | $30,000 | $9,500 |
| Typical debt if you borrow | $16,700 | $16,700 |
| Earnings, first years | $64,000 | $34,000 |
| Earnings by year 5 | $86,000 | $43,000 |
| Net by year 10 (typical) | $528k | $316k |
| Demand in Ontario | High | High |
| Time in a classroom | 55% | 55% |
Earnings by year, roughly
Before tax. Years in school show as "school". Medians rise from the starting figure to the year-5 figure, then stay flat.
Dental hygiene
A day looks like: Cleanings, assessments and patient education in dental offices. Regular hours, no nights.
What stops people: Competitive admission and expensive instruments and licensing.
Downside: Repetitive physical strain (neck, wrists). Many hygienists work part-time across several clinics rather than one full-time job.
Early childhood education
A day looks like: Working with children under six in daycares and kindergartens; planning play-based learning.
What stops people: Placements require police checks and immunisation records; otherwise accessible.
Downside: Low pay ceiling despite high demand. Many leave for teaching or move into administration.
Quick answers
Which pays more, dental hygiene or early childhood education?
By year five, Dental hygiene is about $86,000 and Early childhood education about $43,000 (Ontario medians, before tax). By year ten, counting what each cost, Dental hygiene nets roughly $528k and Early childhood education roughly $316k.
Which is faster to a real paycheque?
Dental hygiene: about 3 years. Early childhood education: about 2 years.
What does each cost?
Dental hygiene: $30,000 in tuition and fees, typical debt $16,700. Early childhood education: $9,500, typical debt $16,700.
What is the downside of each?
Dental hygiene: Repetitive physical strain (neck, wrists). Many hygienists work part-time across several clinics rather than one full-time job. Early childhood education: Low pay ceiling despite high demand. Many leave for teaching or move into administration.
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Figures are Ontario medians and typical costs from Job Bank, Statistics Canada, Skilled Trades Ontario and institution fee pages; the data page lists every source and date. Switch province on either pathway page for BC, Alberta or Quebec figures.