Dental Hygienist
Dental Hygienists typically earn $98,100 a year in the United States, and about 222,740 work in the field. Employment is projected to grow 8% from 2025 to 2035 (BLS).
$98,100
Typical pay a year
+8%
Job growth 2025–35
15,000
Openings a year
223K
Employed in the US
BLS OES May 2025 · projections 2025–35
What is in this guide
Each part of the dental hygienist guide has its own page. Start with the figure you came for.
Salary
$98,100 typical · 50 states, 509 metrosPay by state, metro, and work settingHow to become
Training, exam, first jobThe steps to becoming a Dental HygienistPrograms and schools
364 colleges, 8,802 graduates in 2024Every college by state, from NCES IPEDSCertification
Requirements by stateExams, certifying bodies, and verificationCareer path
Dental Assistant $48,070 → Dental Hygienist $98,100 → Dentist $170,950Each step up and what it paysJobs
15,000 openings a yearWhere the jobs are, by setting and stateInterview
Questions and answersWhat hiring managers ask Dental HygienistsResume
Guide and sample layoutHow to lay out a Dental Hygienist resumeHow much do dental hygienists make?
Typical Dental Hygienist pay is $98,100 a year across the United States. Among the ten states that employ the most dental hygienists, it ranges from $124,930 in California to $80,610 in Pennsylvania. See all 50 states and 509 metro areas.
| State | Typical pay a year | Vs national $98,100 | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $124,930 | +27% | 24,500 |
| New Jersey | $107,040 | +9% | 7,230 |
| New York | $106,130 | +8% | 13,660 |
| Texas | $99,240 | +1% | 16,380 |
| Illinois | $96,670 | -1% | 8,970 |
| Georgia | $95,490 | -3% | 7,440 |
| Florida | $91,980 | -6% | 11,980 |
| Ohio | $88,990 | -9% | 8,630 |
| Michigan | $83,790 | -15% | 8,640 |
| Pennsylvania | $80,610 | -18% | 7,970 |
BLS OES May 2025 · the ten states with the most dental hygienists, ranked by typical pay
What does each step pay?
Dental Hygienist career path →BLS OES May 2025 · typical annual pay, United States
Related dental professions
BLS OES May 2025 · typical annual pay