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Dental hygienist: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 23, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$98,100median pay per year, or $47.16 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $74,880lowest 10% earn less
  2. $83,57025th percentile
  3. $98,100median
  4. $108,48075th percentile
  5. $126,050top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[7]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[2]

A dental hygienist earns a median of $98,100 a year, well above the typical US wage, after training that usually starts with an associate's degree[1][2][3]. Every state requires a license, and jobs are projected to grow faster than average[4][5][6].

Job growth, 2025–35
+8%[4]
Openings per year
15,000[8]
Typical entry education
Associate's degree[3]

How much do dental hygienists make?

The median wage for dental hygienists was $98,100 a year in May 2025, or $47.16 an hour[1]. That means half earned more and half earned less[1]. The average (mean) was a little higher, at $98,990 a year and $47.59 an hour[9].

For comparison, the median wage for all US occupations was $50,980[2]. So a typical dental hygienist earns far more than a typical US worker.

Pay is grouped fairly tightly around the median. The middle half of workers earned between $83,570 and $108,480 a year[7].

Percentile Per year Per hour
10th[7][10] $74,880 $36.00
25th[7][10] $83,570 $40.18
50th (median)[1] $98,100 $47.16
75th[7][10] $108,480 $52.16
90th[7][10] $126,050 $60.60

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $74,880, and the top 10% earned more than $126,050[7]. BLS does not publish a starting salary.

These figures cover wage and salary workers only. They leave out self-employed people and do not include benefits. Only 1.3% of dental hygienists were self-employed in 2025[11].

Pay by state and city

Where you work changes your pay a lot. The District of Columbia had the highest median at $137,220, followed by Alaska at $132,690, Washington at $131,160, California at $124,930 and Oregon at $122,080[12]. At the other end, the median was $73,840 in West Virginia, $67,280 in Mississippi and $61,160 in Alabama[12].

The most jobs are in the biggest states. California had 24,500 dental hygienist jobs, then Texas with 16,380, New York with 13,660, Florida with 11,980 and Illinois with 8,970[13].

Among metros with 100 or more hygienist jobs, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont paid the most, with a median of $146,760[14]. Next came San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara at $139,990 and Santa Rosa-Petaluma at $136,210[14]. Of the eight top-paying metros on the BLS list, all but Anchorage are in California or Washington[14].

The New York-Newark-Jersey City area had the most jobs by far, 14,230, with a median of $109,720[15]. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim came second with 7,940 jobs and a median of $122,980[15].

Show median pay in 49 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
District of Columbia[12]$137,220320
Alaska$132,690790
Washington$131,1606,330
California$124,93024,500
Oregon$122,0803,600
Nevada$115,2901,510
Colorado$109,5804,270
Maryland$107,8303,500
New Jersey$107,0407,230
New York$106,13013,660
Minnesota$103,9704,110
Virginia$102,9503,770
New Hampshire$101,2501,360
Arizona$101,0104,530
Connecticut$100,6903,240
Massachusetts$100,6406,850
Texas$99,24016,380
Delaware$98,910750
Montana$98,440860
North Carolina$97,8506,690
Maine$97,6801,060
Oklahoma$97,5802,860
Hawaii$97,570830
Vermont$97,470560
Illinois$96,6708,970
Wisconsin$96,5405,080
New Mexico$95,9401,420
Georgia$95,4907,440
Idaho$94,6502,060
Missouri$92,7503,810
Nebraska$92,5801,280
Indiana$92,3305,020
South Dakota$92,210630
Florida$91,98011,980
Utah$91,1203,780
North Dakota$90,530660
Ohio$88,9908,630
Rhode Island$86,910770
Arkansas$86,7601,740
Louisiana$85,2402,690
Wyoming$85,130500
Tennessee$84,6404,570
South Carolina$84,3403,160
Iowa$84,0102,440
Michigan$83,7908,640
Pennsylvania$80,6107,970
Kentucky$78,8302,070
West Virginia$73,8401,250
Mississippi$67,2801,140
Alabama$61,1603,170

How to become a dental hygienist

BLS lists an associate's degree as the typical education for entry[3]. You do not need work experience in a related job, and there is no typical on-the-job training period[3]. O*NET rates the job as needing medium preparation[16].

1) Prepare in high school. Biology, chemistry and math classes are a good base[17]. 2) Complete the prerequisites. Most dental hygiene programs ask applicants to finish prerequisite courses first, often at the college level[17]. Each school sets its own list[17]. 3) Earn a dental hygiene degree. An associate's degree in dental hygiene is the usual route[18]. Community colleges, technical schools and universities offer these programs[19]. Expect classroom, lab and clinical work, with subjects such as anatomy, medical ethics and periodontics, the study of gum disease[19]. 4) Get licensed. Every state requires a license, and the rules differ from state to state[6]. In most states you need a degree from an accredited program and must pass written and clinical exams[6]. Your state's Board of Dental Examiners has the exact requirements[6]. 5) Get CPR certified if needed. Many jobs also ask for CPR certification[20]. 6) Keep learning. You must complete continuing education to keep your license[6].

How long it takes. BLS says dental hygiene programs usually take 3 years[18]. Prerequisite courses can come before that, and the facts do not give a total time[17].

More school is optional. Some hygienists go on to a bachelor's degree, and a few programs offer a master's[21]. One of these degrees is usually needed for research, teaching, or clinical work in public or school health programs[21].

Skills that help. BLS points to steady hands for precise work in small spaces, care for patients who fear pain or treatment, clear communication with dentists and patients, and close attention to rules and protocols[22][23][24][25]. Hygienists also assess patients and build oral care plans[26][27].

What dental hygienists do

Dental hygienists give preventive oral care, check patients for problems, keep health records and teach patients how to protect their teeth and gums[28]. Common tasks include[29]:

Some hygienists provide extra care such as topical anesthesia[28]. In some states, or for some treatments, hygienists can work without a dentist directly supervising them[23].

Where they work

Nearly all dental hygienists work in dentists' offices: 94% in 2025[30].

Part-time work is common in this job[31]. A dentist may want a hygienist for just part of the week, so some hygienists work for two or more dentists[31].

Safety gear is part of the daily routine. Hygienists wear gloves, masks and safety glasses to guard against infection, and they follow radiation safety steps when taking x-rays[32].

Job outlook

BLS projects jobs for dental hygienists to grow 8% from 2025 to 2035[4]. That is faster than the 3.5% growth projected for all occupations[5]. In numbers, employment is expected to rise from about 225,300 to 243,200, a gain of about 17,900 jobs[4].

There should be about 15,000 openings a year on average[8]. These include jobs that open up when workers retire or switch careers, not only newly created jobs[8]. Each year about 3.3% of hygienists are expected to leave the labor force and 2.3% to move into other occupations[33].

A note on job counts: the wage survey counted about 222,740 jobs in May 2025[34], while the projections start from about 225,300[4]. The projections include self-employed workers and are a different measure, so the two numbers do not match exactly.

Is it a good fit?

The facts point to solid pay for the training involved. The median of $98,100 is well above the all-occupations median of $50,980, and the typical entry degree is an associate's[1][2][3]. Programs usually take 3 years, and you will need a state license before you can work[18][6]. Growth of 8% beats the 3.5% average for all jobs[4][5]. It may suit someone who likes close, precise handwork with patients and is fine with a clinic setting, possibly on a part-time schedule[24][31][30]. Pay depends heavily on location, so check your state's median before you decide[12].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[35].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a dental hygienist make an hour?
The median hourly wage was $47.16 in May 2025[1]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $36.00 an hour and the top 10% more than $60.60[10].
How long does it take to become a dental hygienist?
BLS says dental hygiene programs usually take 3 years[18]. Many programs also require prerequisite courses first, and you need a state license before you can work[17][6].
What degree do you need to be a dental hygienist?
An associate's degree in dental hygiene is the typical entry education[3][18]. A bachelor's or master's is usually needed for research, teaching or public and school health work[21]. In an O*NET survey of 19 workers, 75% said an associate's degree is required[36].
Is dental hygiene in demand?
Jobs are projected to grow 8% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% for all occupations[4][5]. BLS expects about 15,000 openings a year[8].
What is the highest paying state for dental hygienists?
The District of Columbia had the highest median at $137,220[12]. Among the states, Alaska came first at $132,690, followed by Washington at $131,160 and California at $124,930[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Dental Hygienists in the US was $98,100 per year and $47.16 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Dental Hygienists: education needed for entry: Associate's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Dental Hygienists is projected to grow 8% from 2025 to 2035, from about 225,300 to 243,200 jobs (a change of +17,900). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  5. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  6. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Dental Hygienists: 10th percentile $74,880, 25th percentile $83,570, 75th percentile $108,480, 90th percentile $126,050. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS Employment Projections: about 15,000 openings for Dental Hygienists are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Dental Hygienists was $98,990 per year and $47.59 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Dental Hygienists: 10th percentile $36.00, 25th percentile $40.18, 75th percentile $52.16, 90th percentile $60.60. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS Employment Projections: 1.3% of Dental Hygienists were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  12. Median annual wage for Dental Hygienists in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Dental Hygienists jobs: California 24,500; Texas 16,380; New York 13,660; Florida 11,980; Illinois 8,970. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Dental Hygienists (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $146,760; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $139,990; Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $136,210; Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $135,990; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $133,740; Anchorage, AK $132,740; Napa, CA $131,370; Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $131,040. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Dental Hygienists jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 14,230 (median $109,720); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 7,940 (median $122,980); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 7,050 (median $101,870); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 6,470 (median $100,260); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 5,150 (median $101,990); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 4,710 (median $100,370). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. O*NET 29-1292.00: Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job. O*NET OnLine
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. O*NET description of Dental Hygienists. O*NET OnLine
  29. O*NET task list for Dental Hygienists. O*NET OnLine
  30. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of dental hygienists in 2025: Offices of dentists 94%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Dental Hygienists: 3.3% of workers leave the labor force each year and 2.3% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  34. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 222,740 people were employed as Dental Hygienists in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  35. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine
  36. O*NET 29-1292.00 survey of workers (19 respondents), education level they say is required: Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 75%, First Professional Degree 13%, Post-Baccalaureate Certificate 9% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine

Wages are BLS OEWS estimates for May 2025 and cover wage and salary workers. They do not include self-employed workers, tips are included only where employers report them, and benefits are not included. BLS does not publish a 'starting salary'. The 10th and 25th percentile wages show what lower-paid workers earn, which often includes people new to the job. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.