Dental Hygienist Salary: Pay by State, Hour, and Work Schedule
The latest federal wage data puts the median dental hygienist salary at $98,100 per year, or $47.16 per hour, as of May 2025. But that annual number needs context: many dental hygienists work part time, and pay varies dramatically by location.
Quick answer: The May 2025 national 10th-to-90th-percentile range is $74,880 to $126,050. BLS projects 8% employment growth from 2025 to 2035 and about 15,000 openings per year.
This guide uses current BLS data and one rule that salary pages routinely butcher: wage percentiles are not experience levels. The 10th percentile is not automatically “starting pay,” and the 90th percentile is not automatically “senior pay.”
Table of Contents
- Dental Hygienist Salary Explorer
- National Pay Distribution
- Dental Hygienist Salary by State
- Hourly Pay and Part-Time Schedules
- Pay by Workplace
- Compare Similar Healthcare Careers
- Is Dental Hygiene Worth It for the Pay?
- 2025–35 Job Outlook
- FAQ
- Sources
Dental Hygienist Salary Explorer
Choose a state and a weekly schedule. The tool uses the state's published May 2025 median hourly wage and shows a simple annual gross-pay illustration. It does not estimate your personal salary.
Schedule model = median hourly wage × selected weekly paid hours × 52. It assumes paid hours every week and ignores unpaid time off, cancellations, benefits, overtime, bonuses, and taxes. Wage source: May 2025 BLS OEWS via CareerOneStop.
What the National Pay Distribution Actually Says
| Measure | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $36.00 | $74,880 |
| 25th percentile | $40.18 | $83,570 |
| Median | $47.16 | $98,100 |
| 75th percentile | $52.16 | $108,480 |
| 90th percentile | $60.60 | $126,050 |
| Mean (average) | $47.59 | $98,990 |
The median is usually the cleaner “typical pay” benchmark because half of workers earn less and half earn more. The mean is the arithmetic average and can be pulled upward by high-paying markets.
May 2025 OEWS estimated 222,740 wage-and-salary dental hygienists. The separate BLS Employment Projections program uses a 2025 base of 225,300 jobs. They are different federal datasets, so we keep them labeled instead of quietly merging them.
Dental Hygienist Salary by State
Among jurisdictions with a published May 2025 median, the highest figures are District of Columbia ($137,220), Alaska ($132,690), Washington ($131,160), California ($124,930), Oregon ($122,080). The five lowest published state medians are Pennsylvania ($80,610), Kentucky ($78,830), West Virginia ($73,840), Mississippi ($67,280), Alabama ($61,160). Kansas is listed as N/A because the current source does not publish a value for this occupation.
Important: These are nominal wages. This table does not adjust for housing, taxes, commuting, childcare, or other living costs. A bigger salary number is not automatically more purchasing power.
| State | 10th %ile/hr | Median/hr | 90th %ile/hr | Median/year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $23.54 | $29.41 | $34.81 | $61,160 |
| Alaska | $29.13 | $63.79 | $66.75 | $132,690 |
| Arizona | $43.98 | $48.56 | $58.61 | $101,010 |
| Arkansas | $29.89 | $41.71 | $46.99 | $86,760 |
| California | $49.08 | $60.06 | $73.04 | $124,930 |
| Colorado | $46.00 | $52.68 | $61.97 | $109,580 |
| Connecticut | $41.92 | $48.41 | $50.97 | $100,690 |
| Delaware | $44.99 | $47.55 | $54.30 | $98,910 |
| District of Columbia | $41.40 | $65.97 | $74.92 | $137,220 |
| Florida | $36.52 | $44.22 | $47.61 | $91,980 |
| Georgia | $35.87 | $45.91 | $49.83 | $95,490 |
| Hawaii | $37.88 | $46.91 | $50.00 | $97,570 |
| Idaho | $41.16 | $45.51 | $49.68 | $94,650 |
| Illinois | $35.71 | $46.48 | $56.93 | $96,670 |
| Indiana | $36.04 | $44.39 | $49.17 | $92,330 |
| Iowa | $37.65 | $40.39 | $46.06 | $84,010 |
| Kansas | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Kentucky | $29.46 | $37.90 | $47.48 | $78,830 |
| Louisiana | $23.99 | $40.98 | $47.27 | $85,240 |
| Maine | $40.10 | $46.96 | $52.25 | $97,680 |
| Maryland | $41.08 | $51.84 | $59.01 | $107,830 |
| Massachusetts | $44.96 | $48.39 | $56.43 | $100,640 |
| Michigan | $37.13 | $40.28 | $46.62 | $83,790 |
| Minnesota | $39.48 | $49.99 | $57.82 | $103,970 |
| Mississippi | $28.27 | $32.35 | $40.06 | $67,280 |
| Missouri | $28.79 | $44.59 | $47.79 | $92,750 |
| Montana | $39.93 | $47.33 | $50.37 | $98,440 |
| Nebraska | $32.50 | $44.51 | $47.15 | $92,580 |
| Nevada | $47.98 | $55.43 | $62.24 | $115,290 |
| New Hampshire | $41.54 | $48.68 | $59.13 | $101,250 |
| New Jersey | $45.32 | $51.46 | $56.60 | $107,040 |
| New Mexico | $39.51 | $46.12 | $50.69 | $95,940 |
| New York | $37.35 | $51.03 | $60.89 | $106,130 |
| North Carolina | $37.15 | $47.04 | $49.93 | $97,850 |
| North Dakota | $39.85 | $43.53 | $47.37 | $90,530 |
| Ohio | $36.67 | $42.78 | $49.50 | $88,990 |
| Oklahoma | $39.08 | $46.91 | $57.58 | $97,580 |
| Oregon | $50.26 | $58.69 | $64.48 | $122,080 |
| Pennsylvania | $30.35 | $38.76 | $49.78 | $80,610 |
| Rhode Island | $40.29 | $41.78 | $48.33 | $86,910 |
| South Carolina | $31.59 | $40.55 | $46.74 | $84,340 |
| South Dakota | $35.33 | $44.33 | $47.25 | $92,210 |
| Tennessee | $36.63 | $40.69 | $47.26 | $84,640 |
| Texas | $34.39 | $47.71 | $56.68 | $99,240 |
| Utah | $37.90 | $43.81 | $47.87 | $91,120 |
| Vermont | $38.95 | $46.86 | $52.89 | $97,470 |
| Virginia | $41.70 | $49.50 | $60.37 | $102,950 |
| Washington | $51.49 | $63.06 | $77.91 | $131,160 |
| West Virginia | $28.82 | $35.50 | $40.11 | $73,840 |
| Wisconsin | $38.64 | $46.41 | $53.00 | $96,540 |
| Wyoming | $29.34 | $40.93 | $47.77 | $85,130 |
Source: CareerOneStop Salary Finder, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, using May 2025 BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The 10th and 90th percentiles are distribution cut points, not “beginner” and “expert” salaries.
Why Hourly Pay Can Matter More Than the Headline Annual Number
BLS says many dental hygienists work part time. Dentists may hire a hygienist for only a few days per week, and some hygienists work for more than one dentist. For hourly occupations, the annual OEWS equivalent is based on a full-time, year-round 2,080-hour schedule, so the hourly median matters if your expected schedule is shorter.
| Paid hours/week | Hours/year | Gross at $47.16/hour |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | 832 | $39,237 |
| 24 | 1,248 | $58,856 |
| 32 | 1,664 | $78,474 |
| 36 | 1,872 | $88,284 |
| 40 | 2,080 | $98,093 |
These are multiplication examples, not predictions. Real annual earnings can differ because paid leave, cancellations, benefits, overtime, bonuses, and employer policies differ.
Does the Workplace Change Dental Hygienist Pay?
BLS reports that about 94% of dental hygienists worked in dentists' offices in 2025. Its current Occupational Outlook Handbook lists these May 2025 median annual wages for some of the largest employing industries:
- Offices of dentists: $98,280
- Offices of physicians: $91,160
- Government, excluding state and local education and hospitals: $80,830
Those are industry medians, not guaranteed compensation packages. BLS also notes that benefits such as vacation, sick leave, and retirement contributions vary by employer and may be available only to full-time workers.
How Dental Hygiene Pay Compares With Similar Healthcare Careers
All figures below use the current May 2025 OEWS wage release and 2025–35 BLS Employment Projections, so the comparison is at least apples-to-apples instead of the usual internet fruit salad.
| Occupation | 2025 median | Hourly | 2025–35 growth | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dental hygienist | $98,100 | $47.16 | 8.0% | Associate's degree |
| Diagnostic medical sonographer | $96,590 | $46.44 | 13.9% | Associate's degree |
| Respiratory therapist | $82,280 | $39.56 | 8.5% | Associate's degree |
| Radiologic technologist/technician | $80,110 | $38.52 | 5.0% | Associate's degree |
| Physical therapist assistant | $68,380 | $32.88 | 23.0% | Associate's degree |
| Dental assistant | $48,070 | $23.11 | 7.4% | Postsecondary nondegree award |
Dental hygiene sits near the top of this group on median pay. But salary alone is a lousy career counselor. Program access, licensing, local demand, physical fit, schedule preferences, and education cost all matter.
If you're choosing between the two dental roles specifically, see our dental assistant vs. dental hygienist comparison.
Is Dental Hygiene Worth Pursuing for the Pay?
The pay can be compelling. BLS lists an associate's degree as the typical entry education, and the 2025 median is close to six figures. But the path is not a two-year money printer.
BLS says dental hygiene programs typically take about three years to complete and often require college-level prerequisites. Every state requires licensure, with requirements varying by state. Before spending money, verify that a program is appropriately accredited and fits the licensing path where you expect to work.
CODA is the national programmatic accreditor for dental and dental-related education programs. You can verify programs in the CODA program finder.
If the salary still looks attractive after those caveats, compare dental hygienist training programs, admissions requirements, clinical format, and licensure preparation. Do not assume the shortest or most expensive option automatically has the best return.
What the 2025–35 Job Outlook Says
BLS projects dental hygienist employment to grow 8% from 2025 to 2035, from about 225,300 to 243,200 jobs, a gain of about 17,900 jobs. It projects roughly 15,000 openings per year on average, including openings created when workers leave the occupation or labor force.
That outlook supports continued national demand, but it is not a guarantee about hiring in a specific city or year.
Before Choosing This Career for the Salary
- Can you handle precise, repetitive hands-on work in a patient's mouth for much of the day?
- Are you comfortable with a licensed healthcare role where state requirements matter?
- Does your local market support enough hours if you want full-time earnings?
- What will the complete program cost after prerequisites, fees, instruments, and commuting?
- Does the program support the licensing path in the state where you plan to work?
- Would you still want the job if your schedule were 24 to 32 hours per week instead of 40?
The salary is attractive. The better question is whether the job, schedule, and training path are attractive to you too.
Dental Hygienist Salary FAQ
How much does a dental hygienist make?
The national median was $98,100 per year, or $47.16 per hour, in May 2025. The national 10th-to-90th-percentile range was $74,880 to $126,050.
What state pays dental hygienists the most?
Among states with a published May 2025 median, Alaska had the highest median at $132,690. Washington was next at $131,160. The District of Columbia, which is not a state, had a higher published median of $137,220.
Is $98,100 a realistic starting salary?
It is the national median, not a starting salary. OEWS wage percentiles are not mapped to years of experience, so the data cannot support a universal “starting pay” number.
Do dental hygienists usually work 40 hours a week?
Not necessarily. BLS says many dental hygienists work part time, and some work for more than one dentist. That is why hourly pay and expected weekly hours matter when estimating annual earnings.
Is dental hygiene a two-year career path?
Not always. BLS says dental hygienists typically need an associate's degree and that programs usually take about three years. Prerequisites and licensing steps can extend the timeline.
Do all states require dental hygienists to be licensed?
Yes. BLS says every state requires licensure, but specific requirements vary by state.
Sources and Data Notes
Data checked September 16, 2026. Wage reference period: May 2025. Employment projection period: 2025–35.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Dental Hygienists. Updated Aug. 27, 2026. BLS dental hygienist profile
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. May 2025 national and state wage estimates, SOC 29-1292. OEWS tables
- CareerOneStop Salary Finder, U.S. Department of Labor. State wage table using May 2025 BLS OEWS estimates. Salary Finder
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections. 2025–35 occupational projections and worker characteristics. BLS projections
- Commission on Dental Accreditation. Find a Program
Related Guides
Explore Dental Hygiene Training
If the pay, schedule, and work itself still make sense for you, compare programs and verify accreditation, prerequisites, clinical training, and state licensing requirements before committing.