Dental Hygienist Salary

For anyone who is thinking of studying to be a dental hygienist salary is a consideration in their career decision. A dental hygienist works under the supervision of a dentist performing various tasks such as cleaning teeth and basic patient assessment. A dental hygienist salary may be higher if they also possess clinical service skills such as teaching health education.

Average U.S. Dental Hygienist Salary

Dental hygienists receive their salaries in a variety of ways which include hourly, daily, weekly or by commission. The exact amount of a dental hygienist salary can vary depending on work location, geographic area and experience. According to several private job resources, the average expected salary in the U.S. for this career is $61,686 in 2011. These figures were based on an analysis of the data that was collected from thousands of employers in the United States currently paying at least one dental hygienist salary to an employee.

How Much Does a Dental Hygienist Make in Various Industries?

The three highest paying industries for a dental hygienist salary are administrative services, dentist offices and employment services. These industries paid an average salary in 2008 of $68,230, 68,160 and $68,150, respectfully. Outpatient care centers and other health practitioners are top paying industries. These figures represent average annual salaries, but a dental hygienist salary is much higher for the majority of workers depending on location.

Highest and Lowest Salaries for Dental Hygienists

The U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics provides reports on how much do dental hygienist make in the United States based on percentage. In 2008, 10 percent of dental hygienists made $44,900 a year,
20 percent made $55,620; seventy five percent were paid $79,990 and 90 percent made $92,860 each year.

Where Dental Hygienists Work

According to U.S. Department of Labor data, states that have the highest concentration of dental hygienists do not necessarily pay top dental hygienist salary. For instance, the state of Michigan employs around 9,000 dental hygienists who are paid an average of around $60,000 a year. Idaho, with 1170 employed pays $65,000 and New Hampshire pays its 1,200 dental hygienists $73,000 annually.

States that Pay the Highest Dental Hygienist Salary

The state of Alaska pays its 520 dental hygienists the highest salary in the nation at $96,000 a year. Washington State has 460 dental hygienists that earn a $90,140 mean annual salary. California has 18,340 employed with a mean annual salary of $87,540. Rounding out the top five highest paying states are Nevada (1,410 dental hygienists paid $81,000) and Oregon (2700 dental hygienists paid $77,000).

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