Wages for a Dental Hygienist
Dental hygienists provide an auxiliary service in dental practices, educating patients about oral health and performing routine clinical treatments. They demonstrate cleaning techniques and offer guidance on tooth health as it relates to diet and lifestyle. They may perform de-scaling and polishing procedures and take X-rays to aid diagnosis. A dental hygienist's salary will be affected by factors including location and employer type.
Other People Are Reading
-
Average Wages
-
In a survey of employment conducted in 2009, the Bureau of Labor Statistics gathered pay data from 173,900 individuals working as dental hygienists throughout the United States. It concluded that the average annual salary for the occupation was $67,860. This equates to a monthly income of $5,655 and an hourly pay rate of $32.63. The figures correspond with those published by wage comparison website PayScale in March 2011, which put the average annual salary for a dental hygienist between $46,162 and $73,527.
Wages by Industry
-
The Bureau of Labor Statistics found that the vast majority of dental hygienists work within the private offices of dentists. It listed the average annual salary within this sector as $68,160. Other employment opportunities exist within the offices of physicians, in which the average pay was given as $61,740, and general medical and surgical hospitals, listed at an average of $57,570. Dental hygienists working in outpatient care centers received an average of $68,100 per year.
-
Wages by Geography
-
A second factor affecting dental hygienist salaries is the geographical location in which they work. Pay comparison website SalaryExpert analyzed wages for the profession in some major cities. It found that dental hygienists working in Phoenix, Arizona, earned $82,498 on average, while those in New York City received $82,254. In contrast, Miami, Florida, was listed at $55,563. The Bureau of Labor Statistics listed Alaska and Washington as the states in which dental hygienists earned the highest average wages -- $96,280 and $90,140 respectively. Michigan was listed at $59,640.
Outlook
-
The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects employment opportunities for dental hygienists to increase by approximately 36 percent between 2008 and 2018. This is considerably faster growth than the BLS predicts for the nation across all occupations -- put at between 7 and 13 percent during the same period. The primary motivation for this growth will be the aging American population, which will retain its teeth for longer than in previous generations, combined with an increased emphasis on preventative dental care. The aging of the populace will also see large numbers of practitioners leave the profession and need to be replaced. As a result, salary levels for dental hygienists should remain competitive.
-
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images
