Dental Hygienist Salary
Dental hygienists clean teeth, examine patients for signs of oral diseases, and provide preventive dental care and education on maintaining good oral health.
Dental Hygienist Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level dental hygienists earn around $55,000 per year, while mid-career professionals earn $80,000. Senior-level dental hygienists can earn $105,000 or more.
Salary Percentile Breakdown
The salary range for dental hygienists varies significantly. The bottom 10% earn $58,200, while the top 10% earn $108,200.
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $58,200 |
| 25th Percentile | $67,600 |
| 50th Percentile (Median) | $81,400 |
| 75th Percentile | $98,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $108,200 |
Dental Hygienist Salary by State
Dental Hygienist salaries vary significantly by state due to cost of living, demand, and industry concentration. The highest paying state is Hawaii at $144,892, while Mississippi offers the lowest at $65,934.
| State | Median | |
|---|---|---|
| #1 Hawaii | $144,892 | Details → |
| #2 California | $118,844 | Details → |
| #3 Massachusetts | $116,402 | Details → |
| #4 Alaska | $105,006 | Details → |
| #5 New York | $103,378 | Details → |
| #6 New Jersey | $97,680 | Details → |
| #7 Washington | $96,866 | Details → |
| #8 Connecticut | $94,424 | Details → |
| #9 Maryland | $92,796 | Details → |
| #10 Oregon | $91,168 | Details → |
| #11 New Hampshire | $87,912 | Details → |
| #12 Rhode Island | $87,912 | Details → |
| #13 Colorado | $87,098 | Details → |
| #14 Virginia | $86,284 | Details → |
| #15 Delaware | $83,842 | Details → |
| #16 Vermont | $83,842 | Details → |
| #17 Minnesota | $82,214 | Details → |
| #18 Florida | $81,400 | Details → |
| #19 Maine | $81,400 | Details → |
| #20 Nevada | $80,586 | Details → |
| #21 Pennsylvania | $80,586 | Details → |
| #22 Arizona | $78,958 | Details → |
| #23 Illinois | $78,958 | Details → |
| #24 Utah | $78,958 | Details → |
| #25 Texas | $76,516 | Details → |
| #26 Wisconsin | $76,516 | Details → |
| #27 Georgia | $75,702 | Details → |
| #28 Montana | $75,702 | Details → |
| #29 Idaho | $74,888 | Details → |
| #30 North Carolina | $74,888 | Details → |
| #31 Ohio | $74,888 | Details → |
| #32 Louisiana | $74,074 | Details → |
| #33 New Mexico | $74,074 | Details → |
| #34 Tennessee | $74,074 | Details → |
| #35 Indiana | $73,260 | Details → |
| #36 Michigan | $73,260 | Details → |
| #37 Nebraska | $73,260 | Details → |
| #38 North Dakota | $73,260 | Details → |
| #39 Wyoming | $73,260 | Details → |
| #40 Iowa | $72,446 | Details → |
| #41 South Carolina | $72,446 | Details → |
| #42 Missouri | $71,632 | Details → |
| #43 South Dakota | $71,632 | Details → |
| #44 Alabama | $70,818 | Details → |
| #45 Kansas | $70,818 | Details → |
| #46 Kentucky | $70,818 | Details → |
| #47 Oklahoma | $68,376 | Details → |
| #48 Arkansas | $66,748 | Details → |
| #49 West Virginia | $66,748 | Details → |
| #50 Mississippi | $65,934 | Details → |
Key Responsibilities
- ● Clean teeth and remove plaque, tartar, and stains
- ● Examine patients for signs of oral disease and abnormalities
- ● Take and develop dental X-rays
- ● Apply preventive treatments such as sealants and fluoride
- ● Educate patients on proper oral hygiene techniques
Top Skills
Education Required
Associate's degree
Job Outlook
Faster than average — projected 7% growth over the next decade