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Dental hygienists are an important part of the dental team since they preventive and therapeutic oral health care services. They are responsible for:
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual wage for a dental hygienist in the United States is $81,360 per year.2 Salaries range from $60,000 to $100,000, depending on experience and location.
Dental hygienists in larger cities usually make more money than those in smaller towns. Additionally, those with more experience usually earn higher salaries.
Here’s the average dental hygienist salary by state:3
| State | Annual mean wage | Hourly mean wage | Annual median wage | Hourly median wage |
| Alabama | $51,130 | $24.58 | $48,540 | $23.34 |
| Alaska | $115,510 | $55.53 | $125, 840 | $60.50 |
| Arizona | $83,300 | $40.05 | $78,140 | $37.57 |
| Arkansas | $74,360 | $35.75 | $77,360 | $37.19 |
| California | $108,200 | $52.02 | $99,440 | $47.81 |
| Colorado | $86,890 | $41.77 | $96,510 | $46.40 |
| Connecticut | $88,610 | $42.60 | $94,960 | $45.65 |
| Delaware | $83,560 | $40.18 | $80,080 | $38.50 |
| District of Columbia | $81,400 | $39.14 | $78,960 | $37.96 |
| Florida | $73,180 | $35.18 | $77,180 | $37.11 |
| Georgia | $73,140 | $35.16 | $76,240 | $36.65 |
| Hawaii | $81,970 | $39.41 | $77,730 | $37.37 |
| Idaho | $75,040 | $36.08 | $77,460 | $37.24 |
| Illinois | $76,640 | $36.84 | $77,270 | $37.15 |
| Indiana | $74,450 | $35.79 | $77,030 | $37.03 |
| Iowa | $76,010 | $36.55 | $77,030 | $37.03 |
| Kansas | $72,540 | $34.88 | $75,700 | $36.39 |
| Kentucky | $61,500 | $29.57 | $61,340 | $29.49 |
| Louisiana | $74,240 | $35.69 | $76,890 | $36.97 |
| Maine | $71,640 | $34.44 | $75,190 | $36.15 |
| Maryland | $89,340 | $42.95 | $98,360 | $47.29 |
| Massachusetts | $87,030 | $41.84 | $95,360 | $45.85 |
| Michigan | $66,720 | $32.08 | $62,180 | $29.90 |
| Minnesota | $79,820 | $38.38 | $77,810 | $37.41 |
| Mississippi | $57,670 | $27.72 | $59,440 | $28.58 |
| Missouri | $74,230 | $35.69 | $76,930 | $36.99 |
| Montana | $80,140 | $38.53 | $77,920 | $37.46 |
| Nebraska | $75,700 | $36.39 | $76,760 | $36.91 |
| Nevada | $89,460 | $43.01 | $97,340 | $46.80 |
| New Hampshire | $82,660 | $39.74 | $78,340 | $37.66 |
| New Jersey | $87,070 | $41.86 | $79,490 | $38.22 |
| New Mexico | $84,480 | $40.62 | $79,690 | $38.31 |
| New York | $83,600 | $40.19 | $78,470 | $37.73 |
| North Carolina | $72,500 | $34.86 | $76,820 | $36.93 |
| North Dakota | $69,440 | $33.39 | $75,440 | $36.27 |
| Ohio | $72,280 | $34.75 | $76,820 | $36.94 |
| Oklahoma | $83,290 | $40.04 | $79,380 | $38.17 |
| Oregon | $94,420 | $45.40 | $98,260 | $47.24 |
| Pennsylvania | $71,710 | $34.48 | $76,180 | $36.63 |
| Rhode Island | $77,140 | $37.09 | $77,980 | $37.49 |
| South Carolina | $65,440 | $31.46 | $62,500 | $30.05 |
| South Dakota | $74,600 | $35.87 | $76,550 | $36.80 |
| Tennessee | $68,770 | $33.06 | $75,220 | $36.16 |
| Texas | $75,970 | $36.53 | $77,600 | $37.31 |
| Utah | $74,110 | $35.63 | $77,510 | $37.27 |
| Vermont | $73,650 | $35.41 | $76,410 | $36.74 |
| Virginia | $83,150 | $39.98 | $89,930 | $43.24 |
| Washington | $106,200 | $51.06 | $99,940 | $48.05 |
| West Virginia | $61,050 | $29.35 | $60,430 | $29.06 |
| Wisconsin | $72,540 | $34.87 | $76,110 | $36.59 |
| Wyoming | $78,010 | $37.50 | $77,270 | $37.15 |
The top-paying states for dental hygienists are:3
Here are the top 10 best-paying cities for dental hygienists:2
| Metropolitan area | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $60.46 | $125,750 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $58.97 | $122,660 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | $57.37 | $119,320 |
| Anchorage, AK | $55.90 | $116,270 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $55.64 | $115,730 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $54.99 | $114,370 |
| Fairbanks, AK | $54.75 | $113,880 |
| Napa, CA | $54.10 | $112,520 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $53.65 | $111,600 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $53.48 | $111,240 |
Overall, the job outlook for dental hygienists is positive and expected to grow in the coming years.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics offers the following outlook for dental hygienists:4,5
According to Zippia.com, the dental hygienist job growth over time is as follows:9
To become a dental hygienist, you must complete an accredited dental hygiene program. Currently, the Commission on Dental Accreditation is the only accrediting body for dental hygiene programs in the United States.
These programs typically take three years to complete. They include courses in:
In addition to completing a dental hygiene program, you must also be licensed in the state you wish to practice. Licensure requirements vary by state but typically include the following:
If you are interested in a career in the dental field but don’t want to become a dental hygienist, there are other options. Some of these include:
A dental assistant assists the dentist with various tasks, such as taking X-rays and sterilizing instruments. They also assist with administrative duties, like scheduling appointments and billing patients.
A dental laboratory technician fabricates dental prosthetics, such as crowns and bridges. They also repair and adjust existing prosthetics.
Since dental hygiene is closely linked to overall health, a health educator can help educate patients on the importance of good oral hygiene. They may also provide information on nutrition and other lifestyle factors that affect oral health.
A dentist is a licensed healthcare professional who diagnoses and treats diseases and disorders of the teeth and gums. They also perform preventive care, such as cleanings and check-ups. However, dentists require more education and training than dental hygienists.
Orthodontics is a dental specialty that focuses on aligning and straightening your teeth. Braces, clear aligners, and retainers are common orthodontic treatments. Becoming an orthodontist requires an additional three-year Master of Science degree and residency program.
Dental hygienists provide preventive dental care, such as cleanings and check-ups. The average salary for a dental hygienist in the United States is $76,220 annually.
They must complete an accredited dental hygiene program and be licensed in the state they wish to practice. The job outlook for dental hygienists is also positive and expected to grow in the coming years.
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