Median Salary
$98,100
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$47.16
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$126,050
entry level starts ~$74,880
Pay Grade
B+
strong pay · 223,000 employed
How much does a Dental Hygienist make?
A Dental Hygienist earns a median annual salary of $98,100 in the United States, which works out to roughly $47.16 per hour for full-time work. Most Dental Hygienists earn between $74,880 at the entry level and $126,050 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $83,570 and $108,480 a year.
That is $36,710 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Dental Hygienist salary range by percentile
Half of all Dental Hygienists earn between $83,570 and $108,480 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $74,880 | $36.00 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $83,570 | $40.18 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $98,100 | $47.16 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $108,480 | $52.15 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $126,050 | $60.60 |
|
Highest-paying states for Dental Hygienist
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. District of Columbia leads the country for Dental Hygienist pay at $137,220 a year, followed by Alaska ($132,690) and Washington ($131,160). At the other end, Alabama posts the lowest median at $61,160 — a gap of $76,060 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
Dental Hygienist salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 50 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
District of Columbia $137,220Alaska $132,690Washington $131,160California $124,930Oregon $122,080Nevada $115,290Colorado $109,580Maryland $107,830New Jersey $107,040New York $106,130Minnesota $103,970Virginia $102,950New Hampshire $101,250Arizona $101,010Connecticut $100,690Massachusetts $100,640Texas $99,240Delaware $98,910Montana $98,440North Carolina $97,850Maine $97,680Oklahoma $97,580Hawaii $97,570Vermont $97,470Illinois $96,670Wisconsin $96,540New Mexico $95,940Georgia $95,490Idaho $94,650Missouri $92,750Nebraska $92,580Indiana $92,330South Dakota $92,210Florida $91,980Utah $91,120North Dakota $90,530Ohio $88,990Rhode Island $86,910Arkansas $86,760Louisiana $85,240Wyoming $85,130Tennessee $84,640South Carolina $84,340Iowa $84,010Michigan $83,790Pennsylvania $80,610Kentucky $78,830West Virginia $73,840Mississippi $67,280Alabama $61,160
Workforce and education
About 223,000 people work as Dental Hygienists in the United States. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Dental Hygienist make in the United States?
The median Dental Hygienist salary in the United States is $98,100 per year, or about $47.16 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $74,880, while the top 10% of earners make $126,050 or more.
How does Dental Hygienist pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of B+ (strong pay), the Dental Hygienist median of $98,100 is above the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Dental Hygienists the most?
District of Columbia is the highest-paying state for Dental Hygienists, with a median salary of $137,220 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Dental Hygienist?
Becoming a Dental Hygienist typically requires about 4 years of college. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
How many Dental Hygienists work in the United States?
About 223,000 people were employed as Dental Hygienists in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.