Three RoutesCompare · Ontario figures · updated 2 November 2026
Dental hygiene vs Respiratory therapy
Same columns, no opinion about which is better for you. On typical Ontario figures, Respiratory therapy is ahead by year 10 ($567k against $528k), because it pays more per year once you are working. The gap is before tax, rent and loan interest, which hit both routes. Dental hygiene gets to a real paycheque first (about 3 years). Respiratory therapy costs $15,000 less to get into.
| Measure | Dental hygiene | Respiratory therapy |
|---|---|---|
| Route | College diploma | College diploma |
| Credential | Ontario College Advanced Diploma | Ontario College Advanced Diploma; CRTO registration |
| Years to finish | 3 | 3 |
| First real paycheque | About 3 years | About 3 years |
| Cost (tuition and fees) | $30,000 | $15,000 |
| Typical debt if you borrow | $16,700 | $16,700 |
| Earnings, first years | $64,000 | $70,000 |
| Earnings by year 5 | $86,000 | $89,000 |
| Net by year 10 (typical) | $528k | $567k |
| Demand in Ontario | High | High |
| Time in a classroom | 55% | 65% |
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.
Respiratory therapy
A day looks like: Running ventilators and oxygen therapy, intubations, sleep and lung testing, on hospital floors and in the ICU, after three years that are roughly half classroom and half lab and clinical.
What stops people: Admission. Far more qualified applicants than seats; apply by February 1 with strong senior science marks.
Downside: ICU and emergency work: twelve-hour shifts, nights, and some of the hardest moments in a hospital. Clinical placements can mean relocating for a semester.
Quick answers
Which pays more, dental hygiene or respiratory therapy?
By year five, Dental hygiene is about $86,000 and Respiratory therapy about $89,000 (Ontario medians, before tax). By year ten, counting what each cost, Dental hygiene nets roughly $528k and Respiratory therapy roughly $567k.
Which is faster to a real paycheque?
Dental hygiene: about 3 years. Respiratory therapy: about 3 years.
What does each cost?
Dental hygiene: $30,000 in tuition and fees, typical debt $16,700. Respiratory therapy: $15,000, 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. Respiratory therapy: ICU and emergency work: twelve-hour shifts, nights, and some of the hardest moments in a hospital. Clinical placements can mean relocating for a semester.
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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.