The Dental Hygienist Salary + How to Become a Dental Hygienist

If you’ve sat in a dentist chair, you already know the importance of a good dental hygiene professional.

They’re usually the “face” of the dental practice—and often the person with whom you spend the most time as they conduct an exam and a cleaning. Their skills and knowledge ensure that you stay healthy and that you’re taking good care of your teeth.

For those who enjoy interfacing with others, are detail-oriented, friendly, and not skeeved out by working inside people’s mouths, this career generally offers normal working hours and the ability for growth. Interested in learning about dental hygienist salaries and how to become one? We’ve compiled everything you need to know.

Dental Hygienist Job Description

In a dentist office setting, dental hygienists are typically the medical professionals who see you before the dentist does. They’re different than dental assistants in that they typically do more of the “medical” aspect of the job. They may: 

• Conduct preliminary oral exams
• Perform routine teeth cleanings for stains, plaque, accretions, etc.
• Take x-rays
• Check for the presence of oral cancer, signs of disease, and sores
• Check for tenderness and swelling 
• Notify dentists of any potential problem areas that they notice

According to the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA), the primary place of employment for dental hygienists is (unsurprisingly) dentists’ offices. However, there are also dental hygiene job opportunities in education, research, public health, and more.

It’s a good field to go into: according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment projections for dental hygiene are stellar. Plus, if you’re a people person, you’re working with patients day in and day out—and doing work that is genuinely important and helpful to them. 

If you’ve ever dealt with a dental or oral health issue, you know this to be true. 

How to Become a Dental Hygienist

So, how do you actually become a dental hygiene professional? Basically, you start with earning a degree in dental hygiene and you end with two big tests.

Here’s a general breakdown of the steps you’d need to take. 

Get the Education.

The first step is to get your education in the field. This typically means taking classes in subjects like chemistry, biology, and anatomy and physiology as early as high school and then college. Many places of employment for dental hygiene professionals require completion of an associate degree program in dental hygiene, which can typically be completed in two to three years. If you prefer a four-year bachelor’s degree program, those are available as well. 

An important note: You’ll need to complete this degree at an accredited program—and the accreditation has to be from the Commission on Dental Accreditation. You can check to ensure that your program is accredited by checking the American Dental Hygiene Association’s list here. 

Take The National Board Exam

Once you’ve earned a degree in dental hygiene, you’ll need to take a national licensing exam called the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE). The guide to the exam notes that every jurisdiction has “an educational requirement, a written requirement, and a clinical examination requirement” and that the NBDHE is a way that many states prefer to ensure you’ve met the written requirement. 

The NBDHE contains 350 questions that include topics like “anatomic sciences,” “assessing patient characteristics,” “planning and managing dental hygiene care,” “dental anatomy,” and more. Once you’ve earned your degree and passed the NBDHE, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a dental hygienist. 

Take Your State or Regional Board Licensure Exam

At this point, the testing isn’t quite over—you’ve got one more big one to go. You’ll need to take your state’s licensing exam. Each area has its own requirements (though most of them are pretty similar). Here’s a helpful list of each state from the American Association of Dental Boards. These often require that you show more clinical work and that you’ve mastered the use of dental instruments, and they may require you showing your skills on a volunteer. (Hi, mom!)

Double-Check Everything

There’s a reason that dental hygiene licensure is so involved: you want true, well-educated experts to work in a medical capacity.

But because it’s so involved (and varied), you’ll want to double-check everything in your specific state. Some states may require extra credentials, like a CPR certification. Your final step is to make sure—double or triple-check—that you’ve completed everything on your state’s list. 

What Is the Average Salary of a Dental Hygienist?

Dental hygiene is a relatively fast-growing field, with solid opportunities for growth. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says that dental hygiene is “projected to grow at 11% from 2020 to 2030, which is faster than average for all occupations.” This makes it a smart—and safe—bet to take if you’re looking to gain skills in this area or pivot to this profession from a different one. 

Dental hygienist salaries are, of course, dependent on your location, cost of living, experience, and workplace. You can see that there are opportunities for growth and development, and that time on the job should steadily increase your salary as a dental hygiene professional. Here are the average dental hygienist salaries we found, so that you can get an idea of what to expect. 

Note: We utilized the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for this data, which is from May 2021. 

High Salary: The top 10% of dental hygienist salaries is $100,200.

Average Salary: The median salary is $77,810. 

Low Salary: The bottom 10%—so perhaps a starting salary or a salary in a state with a lower salary average—was $60,100. 

This job is not typically one that allows for remote work, since it requires interfacing with patients on a daily basis. To that end, here are the states with the highest employment levels for this field—and their mean salaries— according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

• California – $108,200
• Texas – $75,970
• Florida – $73,180
• New York – $83,600
• Pennsylvania – $71,710

If you’re looking for top-paying states for dental hygienists, here you go. You’re lucky if you’re located in the west:  

• Alaska – $115,510
• California – $108,200
• Washington – $106,200
• Oregon – $94,420
• Nevada – $89,460

Real Dental Hygienist Salaries from The Salary Project

Here are a few entries from The Salary Project from real dental hygienists, located all across the country. The lowest salary we saw was $39,936, while the highest was $92,872.

• Brandon, Mississippi – $39,936
• Omaha, Nebraska – $44,928
• Nashville, Tennessee $46,836
• Portsmouth, New Hampshire – $48,672
• Charlotte, North Carolina – $50,000
• Saline, Michigan – $54,600
• Sussex, Wisconsin – $54,600
• New York, New York – $57,408
• Leavenworth City, Kansas – $57,000
• Covington, Louisiana – $70,980
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – $73,000
• Beaverton, Oregon – $76,024
• Dallas, Texas – $83,200
• Arlington, Virginia – $92,872

To explore even more dental hygienist salary data, log into The Salary Project database today!

How to Increase Your Compensation as a Dental Hygienist

Most states require continuing education in order to keep your dental hygienist license up to date. To continue your license as a registered dental hygienist, you’ll want to ensure that you’re educated in the latest techniques and technologies.

To start, the American Dental Hygienist Association has a whole catalog of continuing education courses that you can take. Many of these count for official continuing education hours, but they’re also helpful when you’re aiming for a raise or promotion. 

Dental Hygienist Certifications 

There are quite a few “extra” certifications that are recommended for dental hygienists. These would be great to add to your resume—and they’re ideal for professional development as you continue in your role. Some common certification options include: 

• Local Anesthesia
• Nitrous Oxide Sedation
• Laser
• Restorative Dental Hygiene 
• CPR
• Basic Life Support (BLS)

Conferences

There’s no shortage of conference options for dental hygienists. Whether you choose to attend for growth or networking or you’re hoping to present research, you’ve got options: 

• The Dental Festival
• American Dental Hygienist Association Annual Conference
• Dental Hygiene Leadership Summit
• RDH Under One Roof Conference 

How to Find a High-Paying Dental Hygienist Job

Since the vast majority of dental hygiene jobs require in-person work, your best bet is to get connected in your community. You know where this is going: build up that network as much as you can. Keep in touch with your classmates and professors, who might have leads for jobs.

Make connections to other local dental hygienists. Keep a pulse on the hiring needs at the dental practices in your area. You never know when someone might think of you for a position that’s opening up.

That’s not to say the internet isn’t also handy here: the American Dental Hygiene Association is super helpful on this front as well. They have their own Careers board, in which they consistently post dental hygienist jobs for your perusal.