If you are interested in building your career in the medical field without becoming a full doctor, then being a dental hygienist might be a good choice for you. Being a good specialist in this field will bring you a high salary, which will only rise as your professional level grows higher. Dental hygienist salary numbers also impress. If we consider the average dental hygienist salary per the year 2021 in the US, we’ll find out the average income has reached $84,802, according to the information provided by indeed.com.
Salary rates also depend on the years of experience of dental hygienists. The more experienced you are, the more you earn. Thus, dental hygienists with less than one year of experience earn $36.28 per hour. Professionals with more than ten years of experience earn $41.09 per hour on average.
The prospects for dental hygienists are optimistic. According to the BLS’s Occupation Outlook Handbook, dental hygienist employment is projected to increase by 20%. Suppose you are interested in making a career as a dental hygienist in the US. In that case, you can maximize the opportunities presented by this occupation by picking a state with the highest dental hygienist salary.
This article contains a breakthrough of the states with the highest average salaries of dental hygienists to help you make the right choice of the state for building your career.
Online Reputation is Important
To reach the desired heights in the medical industry, dental hygienists should take care of their reputation by providing high-quality services to every patient, treating them with proper attention and the highest level of professionalism. As a rule, people working in the medical industry are focused on doing their job on the highest level, and spreading the word about their services online is the last thing they have time for. This is when the PRNEWS.IO services come in handy. The expert team will take care of managing your online reputation and spreading the news about the medical worker’s expertise and professionalism through the channels their target audiences commonly use. Thus, dental hygienists can focus on their job, and the professional PR team will manage their online reputation.
Salary Range, Median Salary, and Percentiles Indicators
several major indicators are being used to examine and understand dental hygienist salary rates in the US. It includes
- Salary Range. In 2022, dental hygienist salaries in the United States range from $55,287 per year (minimum salary) in North Carolina to $84,957 per year (maximum salary) in Washington.
- Median Salary. The median salary is $67,000 per year. It means that 50% of all people working as dental hygienists earn less than $55,000, while the other 50% earn more than $67,000. Media salary rates represent the middle salary value. It means that most people want to be on the right side of the graph and join the group of people who earn more than the median salary.
- Percentiles. This indicator is closely related to the median salary in two values – the 25th and the 75th percentiles. Using the dental hygienist salary distribution diagram in the US, we can find out that 25% of people working as dental hygienists earn less than $65,000. 75% of the US dental hygienists earn more than $65,000.
Median vs. Average Salary
Both are indicators. If the dental hygienist’s salary is higher than the median and average salary indicators, things are doing fine. If the salary rate is lower than both, most people in the market are likely earning more than the dental hygienist does, and there is plenty of room for improvement. It may apply to getting new skills and relocating to a state with higher dental hygienist salary rates.
10 States with the Highest Dental Hygienists Salary
The average dental hygienist salary varies by state in the US, though the patterns influencings salary rates are interesting.
In most cases, the numbers depend on living standards in a specific location. Thus, the West Coast states have the highest dental hygienist salary rates, with Washington, California, and Alaska being listed among the states with the highest salary levels.
Here’s a list of the top-10 states with the highest annual dental hygienist salaries in the US:
| Dental hygienist salary Georgia | $65,583 |
| Dental hygienist salary NC | $55,287 |
| Dental hygienist salary New York | $80,954 |
| Dental hygienist salary California | $76,050 |
| Dental hygienist salary Ohio | $66,452 |
| Dental hygienist salary Florida | $61,813 |
| Dental hygienist salary Pennsylvania | $69,164 |
| Dental hygienist salary Texas | $77,590 |
| Dental hygienist salary Arizona | $67,985 |
| Dental hygienist salary Colorado | $64,633 |
Though not listed in the table, worth mentioning is Oregon that saw impressive growth in dental hygienist salaries in 2016-2017. The salary rates grew by more than 50%, from $78,720 to $82,850 on average.
Considering the numbers provided above, starting a career as a dental hygienist can be a good idea for people interested in medicine not looking forward to becoming a full doctor. If you feel like relocating and looking for better salary opportunities, we hope the salaries chart listed above will inspire you for making the right decision.
FAQ: Dental Hygienist Salary
📍How much do dental hygienists make?
Dental hygienist salary rates vary based on states, countries, and a person’s experience level. The US dental hygienist salary rates vary from $55,287 per year to $84,957 per year on average.
📍 How to become a dental hygienist?
The process is not fast but it’s definitely worth every effort you take. First of all, you should meet the education requirements, including obtaining an associate or bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene. Besides, you must also pass licensure exams required in every state to become a practicing dental hygienist.
📍How long is dental hygienist school?
It takes an average of three years to complete a dental hygienist school. There are also programs letting you complete the course faster. The cost depends on the chosen course, its length of time, and the place where you go to school.
