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Key takeaways

Dental hygienist salaries typically depend on factors such as experience level, location, and job title. Explore key facts to know:

• The median annual salary for dental hygienists is $94,260 [].

• A dental hygienist examines and cleans a patient鈥檚 teeth while educating them on proper oral care.

• You can become a dental hygienist by completing an associate degree and a dental hygienist program and becoming licensed in your state.

Learn how much dental hygienists earn on average, as well as how factors like experience, location, and more can impact your salary. Afterward, consider enrolling in the Medical Terminology Specialization, offered by Rice University. You鈥檒l have the opportunity to identify common prefixes, suffixes, roots, and abbreviations so you can recognize most medical terms used by medical professionals. Upon completion, add this credential to your resume or LinkedIn profile.

What is a dental hygienist?

A dental hygienist is a licensed oral health professional who works alongside a dentist to clean and care for a patient鈥檚 overall oral health. They may carry out any treatments or procedures a dental patient may need based on where they work.

A dental hygienist examines and cleans a patient鈥檚 teeth while educating them on how to properly care for their teeth and gums. Dental hygienists often create a plan of care for patients, document treatment given, and report any findings during routine cleanings or office visits.

How long does it take to become a dental hygienist?

To become a dental hygienist, it will generally take four years to complete the necessary prerequisites and then the actual dental hygienist program. After completion of your program, you must complete licensure within your state and nationally by passing both the national exam and any state-specific exams.听

What is the average salary of a dental hygienist?

A dental hygienist in the US makes, on average, $94,260 a year, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) []. In a clinical setting, a dental hygienist makes about half as much as a dentist but double what a dental assistant earns. The median salary for dentists is $179,210 per year [], and dental assistants earn $47,300 per year [].

Dental hygienists can expect to earn a salary between $66,470 and $120,060 [].

Factors that affect dental hygienist salary

Several factors affect a dental hygienist鈥檚 salary, including years of experience, location, and more. To earn more money, you may need to move or go back to school to increase your skill set or learn a specialty.

Dental hygienist salaries by experience

Dental hygienists with more experience tend to earn more than those who have less experience. However, this can vary depending on the type of practice you work with. Some dental hygienists who stay with the same clinic for years could potentially earn less than those who are intentional about seeking out additional certifications and switching workplaces.

Here are some salaries of dental hygienists by experience, according to Glassdoor* []:

• 0鈥�1 year: $96,000

• 1鈥�3 years: $96,000

• 4鈥�6 years: $111,000

• 7鈥�9 years: $120,000听

• 10鈥�14 years: $135,000

• 15+ years: $152,000

*All salary information represents the median total pay from Glassdoor as of October 2025. These figures include base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.

Dental hygienist salaries by location

Areas where dental services are in demand may pay more. Cities where the cost of living is greater than the national average may naturally pay more. Here are some examples of US median annual salaries in select states from the BLS []:

• Alaska: $129,760

• District of Columbia: $127,900

• Washington: $125,370

• California: $121,080

• Oregon: $118,280

Some of the metropolitan areas that have the highest salaries for dental hygienist jobs []:

• San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA: $135,010

• Vallejo, CA: $134,450

• Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA: $132,010

• Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA: $131,890

• Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA: $131,610

Other factors that affect dental hygienist pay rate

Besides experience and location, a dental hygienist's salary can be affected by:

• Industry: You may pursue other roles outside of the traditional clinical setting, which can raise or lower your income. For example, a dental hygienist working in a government facility tends to earn less than one working in a dental practice.

• Job title: You may also find offices that offer managerial positions for dental hygienists who have been with the business for a longer time. Stepping into one of these administrative or managerial positions can boost your salary.

• Employer: Depending on where you work, your employer sets the wages you will earn each year. If you work for a very large practice with many dental hygienists, you may earn less than in another practice that hires fewer hygienists and/or has a more concentrated population to serve.听

Read more: How to Answer Salary Expectations Questions in an Interview

Job outlook for dental hygienists

An optimistic job outlook is expected for dental hygienists, with a projected 7 percent growth rate between 2024 and 2034. Overall, the BLS predicts an average of 15,300 job openings each year over the decade [].

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