Registered Nurse RN

Registered Nurse, Free Care Plans, Free NCLEX Review, Nurse Salary, and much more. Join the nursing revolution.

  • RN
    • Nursing Clinical Skills
  • Nursing Videos
  • Blog
  • Nursing School
  • Nursing Care Plans
  • Nursing Quizzes
  • Nursing
  • Nursing Jobs
  • NCLEX Review
  • Store

Dental Hygienist Salary | How Much Money Does a Dental Hygienist Make?

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.

Please Share:

  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)
Nursing Gear

RSS Latest YouTube Videos

  • Do Nurses Really Need to Know This?
  • This Vein is Going to Roll... Nurse IV Insertion Tips #shorts
  • Nursing Graduation Spring Class of 2022: Congratulations!!
  • 6 Reasons to Become a Nurse #shorts

Recent Posts

  • Sinus Tachycardia ECG/EKG Rhythm Nursing Review
  • Sinus Tachycardia ECG/EKG Rhythm Quiz
  • Crying in Nursing School
  • Desired over Have by Weight Examples Dosage Calculations
  • Tablets and Capsules Dosage Calculations (Desired over Have Method)

Disclosure and Privacy Policy

This website provides entertainment value only, not medical advice or nursing protocols. We strive for 100% accuracy, but nursing procedures and state laws are constantly changing. By accessing any content on this site or its related media channels, you agree never to hold us liable for damages, harm, loss, or misinformation. See our full disclosure and privacy policy. Copyright Notice: Do not copy this site, articles, images, or its contents without permission.

Important Links

  • Advertise
  • Contact Us

Follow Us on Social Media

  • Facebook Nursing
  • Instagram Nursing
  • TikTok Nurse
  • Twitter Nursing
  • YouTube Nursing

Get Free Email Updates:

Enter your email address below and hit "Submit" to receive free email updates and nursing tips.

Copyright © 2022 RegisteredNurseRN.com. All Rights Reserved.