Dental hygienists salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $74,880 | $36.00 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $98,100 | $47.16 |
| Mean (average) | $98,990 | $47.59 |
| 90th percentile | $126,050 | $60.60 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Dental hygienists pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 52 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $61,160 | $48,960 | $72,410 | 3,170 | 1.05 |
| Alaska | $132,690 | $60,590 | $138,840 | 790 | 1.7 |
| Arizona | $101,010 | $91,480 | $121,910 | 4,530 | 0.98 |
| Arkansas | $86,760 | $62,170 | $97,730 | 1,740 | 0.93 |
| California | $124,930 | $102,090 | $151,920 | 24,500 | 0.94 |
| Colorado | $109,580 | $95,680 | $128,900 | 4,270 | 1.04 |
| Connecticut | $100,690 | $87,190 | $106,020 | 3,240 | 1.33 |
| Delaware | $98,910 | $93,580 | $112,940 | 750 | 1.09 |
| District of Columbia | $137,220 | $86,120 | $155,840 | 320 | 0.31 |
| Florida | $91,980 | $75,960 | $99,040 | 11,980 | 0.84 |
| Georgia | $95,490 | $74,610 | $103,650 | 7,440 | 1.06 |
| Guam | $62,970 | $36,680 | $86,120 | 40 | 0.42 |
| Hawaii | $97,570 | $78,800 | $104,000 | 830 | 0.92 |
| Idaho | $94,650 | $85,610 | $103,340 | 2,060 | 1.68 |
| Illinois | $96,670 | $74,280 | $118,410 | 8,970 | 1.03 |
| Indiana | $92,330 | $74,970 | $102,280 | 5,020 | 1.09 |
| Iowa | $84,010 | $78,320 | $95,810 | 2,440 | 1.09 |
| Kentucky | $78,830 | $61,280 | $98,770 | 2,070 | 0.72 |
| Louisiana | $85,240 | $49,900 | $98,330 | 2,690 | 0.97 |
| Maine | $97,680 | $83,420 | $108,680 | 1,060 | 1.16 |
| Maryland | $107,830 | $85,440 | $122,740 | 3,500 | 0.88 |
| Massachusetts | $100,640 | $93,510 | $117,380 | 6,850 | 1.31 |
| Michigan | $83,790 | $77,230 | $96,970 | 8,640 | 1.37 |
| Minnesota | $103,970 | $82,110 | $120,270 | 4,110 | 0.97 |
| Mississippi | $67,280 | $58,810 | $83,320 | 1,140 | 0.68 |
| Missouri | $92,750 | $59,880 | $99,400 | 3,810 | 0.91 |
| Montana | $98,440 | $83,060 | $104,780 | 860 | 1.17 |
| Nebraska | $92,580 | $67,600 | $98,080 | 1,280 | 0.88 |
| Nevada | $115,290 | $99,800 | $129,460 | 1,510 | 0.68 |
| New Hampshire | $101,250 | $86,400 | $122,980 | 1,360 | 1.39 |
| New Jersey | $107,040 | $94,260 | $117,730 | 7,230 | 1.18 |
| New Mexico | $95,940 | $82,180 | $105,440 | 1,420 | 1.14 |
| New York | $106,130 | $77,680 | $126,640 | 13,660 | 0.98 |
| North Carolina | $97,850 | $77,270 | $103,850 | 6,690 | 0.95 |
| North Dakota | $90,530 | $82,890 | $98,530 | 660 | 1.08 |
| Ohio | $88,990 | $76,260 | $102,950 | 8,630 | 1.09 |
| Oklahoma | $97,580 | $81,290 | $119,760 | 2,860 | 1.17 |
| Oregon | $122,080 | $104,530 | $134,120 | 3,600 | 1.28 |
| Pennsylvania | $80,610 | $63,130 | $103,540 | 7,970 | 0.92 |
| Puerto Rico | $59,320 | $32,170 | $79,330 | ||
| Rhode Island | $86,910 | $83,800 | $100,520 | 770 | 1.07 |
| South Carolina | $84,340 | $65,700 | $97,220 | 3,160 | 0.96 |
| South Dakota | $92,210 | $73,480 | $98,290 | 630 | 0.96 |
| Tennessee | $84,640 | $76,190 | $98,300 | 4,570 | 0.97 |
| Texas | $99,240 | $71,530 | $117,890 | 16,380 | 0.81 |
| Utah | $91,120 | $78,830 | $99,570 | 3,780 | 1.52 |
| Vermont | $97,470 | $81,010 | $110,010 | 560 | 1.28 |
| Virginia | $102,950 | $86,730 | $125,560 | 3,770 | 0.64 |
| Washington | $131,160 | $107,090 | $162,050 | 6,330 | 1.24 |
| West Virginia | $73,840 | $59,950 | $83,430 | 1,250 | 1.25 |
| Wisconsin | $96,540 | $80,370 | $110,240 | 5,080 | 1.21 |
| Wyoming | $85,130 | $61,020 | $99,350 | 500 | 1.24 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for dental hygienists
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 15,000. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 1.3%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for dental hygienists
- Typical entry education
- Associate's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Dental Hygiene/Hygienist CIP 51.0602
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Record and review patient medical histories.
- Feel and visually examine gums for sores and signs of disease.
- Examine gums, using probes, to locate periodontal recessed gums and signs of gum disease.
- Clean calcareous deposits, accretions, and stains from teeth and beneath margins of gums, using dental instruments.
- Provide clinical services or health education to improve and maintain the oral health of patients or the general public.
- Chart conditions of decay and disease for diagnosis and treatment by dentist.
- Expose and develop x-ray film.
- Attend continuing education courses to maintain or update skills.
Technology skills
- Henry Schein Dentrix (in demand)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Dental billing software
- Dental charting software
- Dental clinical records software
- Dental digital radiology software
- Dental imaging software
- Dental intra-oral imaging software
- Dental office management software
- Email software
- Open Dental
- Patterson Dental Supply Patterson EagleSoft
- Scheduling software
- Voice-activated perio charting software
Transferable skills for career changers: Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, Coordination, Persuasion, Instructing, Judgment and Decision Making.
Common job titles: Dental Hygienist, Hygienist, Licensed Dental Hygienist, Pediatric Dental Hygienist, Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH).
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do dental hygienists make?
The national median annual wage for dental hygienists was $98,100 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $74,880 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $126,050. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do dental hygienists need?
BLS lists associate's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is dental hygienists a growing career?
BLS projects employment of dental hygienists to change +8.0% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 15,000 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay dental hygienists the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were District of Columbia ($137,220), Alaska ($132,690), Washington ($131,160). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.