How much money does a dental hygienist make? What are the education requirements? What does a dental hygienist do on a daily basis? These are all great questions. In a continuing series on other healthcare salaries, we’re going to take a look at dental hygienists.
Dental hygienists clean teeth, examine patients for signs of oral diseases such as gingivitis, and provide other preventative dental care. They also educate patients on ways to improve and maintain good oral health. This is typically the person you’ll see when you get your teeth cleaned regularly.
Dental hygienists typically do the following on a day-to-day basis:
- Remove tartar, stains, and plaque from teeth
- Apply sealants and fluorides to help protect teeth
- Take and develop dental x-rays
- Keep track of patient care and treatment plans
- Teach patients oral hygiene techniques, such as how to brush and floss correctly
Dental Hygienist Education Requirements and Job Outlook
Dental hygienists typically need an associate’s degree in dental hygiene, which could take approximately 2-3 years to complete. Bachelor’s degrees in dental hygiene are also available but are less common. A bachelor’s or master’s degree is usually required for research, teaching, or clinical practice in public or school health programs.
High school students interested in becoming dental hygienists should take courses in biology, chemistry, and mathematics. Some dental hygiene programs also require applicants to have completed at least 1 year of college. Specific entrance requirements vary by school. Most states require candidates for licensure to obtain a passing score on the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (a comprehensive written examination) in addition to passing the state-authorized licensure examination.
In addition, a 2-part regional board consisting of an oral pathology slide exam and a clinical (live) exam (with a patient of your choosing and under direct scrutiny of an examiner) is usually required.
Most schools offer laboratory, clinical, and classroom instruction. Hygienists study anatomy, physiology, nutrition, radiography, and periodontology, which is the study of gum disease.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the employment of dental hygienists will grow 33 percent from 2012 to 2022, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Salary and Wage Averages for Dental Hygienists
| Employment | Average hourly wage | Average annual salary |
| 196,520 | $34.60 | $71,970 |
Percentile wage estimates for dental hygienists:
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) | 75% | 90% |
| Hourly Wage | $23.65 | $28.80 | $34.38 | $40.98 | $46.82 |
| Annual Wage | $49,190 | $59,890 | $71,520 | $85,240 | $97,390 |
Industries with the highest levels of employment for dental hygienists:
| Industry | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Offices of Dentists | $34.76 | $72,300 |
| Employment Services | $33.34 | $69,360 |
| Offices of Physicians | $32.42 | $67,440 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | $32.65 | $67,920 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) | $26.75 | $55,630 |
Top paying industries for dental hygienists:
| Industry | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations | $36.01 | $74,910 |
| Offices of Dentists | $34.76 | $72,300 |
| Employment Services | $33.34 | $69,360 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | $32.65 | $67,920 |
| Offices of Physicians | $32.42 | $67,440 |
Top paying States for dental hygienists:
| State | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| District of Columbia | $45.95 | $95,570 |
| California | $45.37 | $94,370 |
| Washington | $43.93 | $91,370 |
| Nevada | $42.94 | $89,320 |
| Arizona | $39.45 | $82,050 |
Lowest paying states for dental hygienists:
| State | Hourly Mean Wage | Average Salary |
| Alabama | 21.19 | 44,070 |
| South Carolina | 26.17 | 54,430 |
| West Virginia | 26.29 | 54,680 |
Average Salary for Dental Hygienist by State:
| State | Hourly average wage | Annual average wage | Annual median wage |
| Alabama | 21.19 | 44,070 | 44,680 |
| Alaska | 36.38 | 75,670 | 79,560 |
| Arizona | 39.45 | 82,050 | 86,040 |
| Arkansas | 29.84 | 62,060 | 63,260 |
| California | 45.37 | 94,370 | 99,100 |
| Colorado | 37.75 | 78,530 | 81,090 |
| Connecticut | 38.54 | 80,170 | 81,840 |
| Delaware | 33.97 | 70,660 | 71,660 |
| District of Columbia | 45.95 | 95,570 | 105,320 |
| Florida | 30.48 | 63,400 | 64,890 |
| Georgia | 30.63 | 63,710 | 64,050 |
| Guam | 16.10 | 33,500 | 32,640 |
| Hawaii | 33.44 | 69,560 | 69,880 |
| Idaho | 34.13 | 70,980 | 72,170 |
| Illinois | 32.88 | 68,390 | 69,330 |
| Indiana | 31.30 | 65,100 | 67,130 |
| Iowa | 32.36 | 67,320 | 68,610 |
| Kansas | 33.48 | 69,640 | 69,790 |
| Kentucky | 27.64 | 57,490 | 56,530 |
| Louisiana | 28.03 | 58,290 | 62,430 |
| Maine | 31.51 | 65,540 | 63,810 |
| Maryland | 39.20 | 81,540 | 84,390 |
| Massachusetts | 38.75 | 80,590 | 83,410 |
| Michigan | 28.61 | 59,520 | 60,540 |
| Minnesota | 33.84 | 70,390 | 71,110 |
| Mississippi | 25.63 | 53,310 | 54,300 |
| Missouri | 32.58 | 67,760 | 69,050 |
| Montana | 32.98 | 68,590 | 69,560 |
| Nebraska | 30.79 | 64,030 | 64,750 |
| Nevada | 42.94 | 89,320 | 89,890 |
| New Hampshire | 38.06 | 79,170 | 80,590 |
| New Jersey | 39.25 | 81,640 | 84,180 |
| New Mexico | 36.34 | 75,600 | 77,190 |
| New York | 33.23 | 69,120 | 68,450 |
| North Carolina | 31.98 | 66,510 | 67,470 |
| North Dakota | 30.30 | 63,030 | 62,880 |
| Ohio | 31.69 | 65,920 | 66,770 |
| Oklahoma | 31.20 | 64,900 | 68,130 |
| Oregon | 36.98 | 76,920 | 76,680 |
| Pennsylvania | 29.58 | 61,530 | 60,750 |
| Rhode Island | 33.94 | 70,590 | 70,410 |
| South Carolina | 26.17 | 54,430 | 54,020 |
| South Dakota | 27.83 | 57,880 | 58,910 |
| Tennessee | 30.95 | 64,380 | 66,230 |
| Texas | 34.60 | 71,980 | 72,070 |
| Utah | 32.99 | 68,610 | 69,580 |
| Vermont | 29.88 | 62,160 | 63,080 |
| Virginia | 38.16 | 79,380 | 80,780 |
| Washington | 43.93 | 91,370 | 91,220 |
| West Virginia | 26.29 | 54,680 | 54,590 |
| Wisconsin | 30.02 | 62,450 | 63,210 |
| Wyoming | 32.67 | 67,950 | 66,990 |
References:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014-15 Edition, Dental Hygienist, on the Internet at bls.gov.