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.

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