What Is the Average Pay Per Hour for a Dental Hygienist in Kentucky?
As with all states, Kentucky requires dental hygienists to be licensed to practice. Becoming licensed in Kentucky involves graduating from an accredited dental hygiene program, along with passing the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination, a clinical examination and an open-book jurisprudence examination. It takes work to fulfill all these requirements, but the effort can pay off with a lucrative salary.
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Averages
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Of the approximately 174,000 dental hygienists working in the United States in 2009, an estimated 1,610 of them were employed in Kentucky, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, or BLS. Dental hygienists in Kentucky were earning $26.77 per hour on average, or $55,690 per year. That was about 18 percent lower than the nationwide average for this occupation, which was $32.63 per hour.
Salary Range
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The middle 50 percent of Kentucky dental hygienists on the earnings scale were making $23.22 to $30.37 per hour in 2009, translating to $48,300 to $63,160 per year. The bottom 10 percent were earning $20.35 per hour and less, and the top 10 percent $33.09 and higher.
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Extremes
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The highest-paying region in Kentucky for dental hygienists was the west central nonmetropolitan area, where dental hygienists were making $30.67 per hour on average. This area ranked in the top 25 percent for dental hygienist salaries statewide. In contrast, the lowest-paying areas were Bowling Green, with an average pay rate of $21.97 per hour, and the east nonmetropolitan area of the state at $22.46, both ranking in the bottom 25 percent statewide and nationally.
Other Areas
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Dental hygienists in other parts of Kentucky were earning average pay rates in the range of $23 to $29 per hour. Dental hygienists in the south central nonmetropolitan part of the state were making $23.73 per hour on average; in Owensboro, $25.09; in the west nonmetropolitan area, $25.55; in the greater Lexington area, $26.55; in Elizabethtown, $27.07; and in the greater Louisville area, $28.63.
Job Openings
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The job search website Indeed.com lists dental hygienist job openings in Kentucky in 2011. Employers generally don't divulge salary information, but they may indicate benefits they offer. Dental hygienists in Kentucky can expect to receive medical, dental and vision insurance, along with paid vacations and holidays, a retirement savings plan and continuing education assistance.
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