The Average Salary for a Dental Hygienist

Dental hygienists inspect patients' mouths for any cavities or oral diseases, clean and remove tartar from teeth, and perform diagnostic procedures such as taking X-rays and using ultrasonic probes. They also provide advice about improving oral hygiene. Almost all are employed by dental offices, with some at physician offices, hospitals or outpatient care centers. Salary information is provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Payscale website.

Starting Salary

Starting median salary for dental hygienists is about $44,000 annually, with an increase to about $48,000 with five years of experience.

General Range

A total of 80 percent of dental hygienists are making between about $42,000 and $89,000. Narrowing it further, the middle 50 percent are earning between $53,000 and $77,000.

Experience

Pay increases a great deal with experience. The average for all dental hygienists working in dental offices is about $65,000 annually.

Location

Location is also key. Western states in general pay much higher than other parts of the country, with the highest average (Alaska) at about $92,000 a year.

Metropolitan Areas

California is a high-paying state as well, with an average salary for a dental hygienist at about $82,000 a year. Some parts of the San Francisco and Fresno regions pay dental hygienists over $100,000 a year on average.

Resources

• Further information on dental hygienist careers from the BLS
• Dental hygienist salary charts from Payscale