Salary Outlook
Hygienists make a comfortable salary, especially considering that most of those in the profession work part-time. In 2011, their median salary was $69,280. The best-paid earned $94,850, and the bottom 10 percent earned $46,020. Many of the top-paid hygienists work in dentists’ offices, but outpatient care centers and ambulatory health care services also pay well. The profession’s best-paying metro areas include San Francisco, New Haven, Conn., and Vallejo, Calif.
| Job Salary | Year |
|---|---|
| 2002 | $57,990.00 |
| 2004 | $59,430.00 |
| 2006 | $62,500.00 |
| 2008 | $67,080.00 |
| 2010 | $68,850.00 |
Average Dental Hygienist Pay vs. All Healthcare Jobs
Dental hygienists earn salaries that compare well to other healthcare professions. Dental assistants and clinical laboratory technicians generally make less money, however. Registered nurses, who earned an average salary of $64,690 in 2010, have a similar take-home pay to a dental hygienist. An occupational therapist tends to make slightly more money. And dentists, who often work closely with hygienists, earn approximately $73,000 more per year.
| Job Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Dentist | $142,740.00 |
| Occupational Therapist | $73,820.00 |
| Dental Hygienist | $69,280.00 |
| Registered Nurse | $65,690.00 |
| Clinical Laboratory Technician | $36,950.00 |
| Dental Assistant | $34,140.00 |
See Complete List of Best Healthcare Jobs
Best Paying Cities for Dental Hygienists
The highest paid in the dental hygienist profession work in the metropolitan areas of San Francisco, CA, New Haven, CT, and Vallejo, CA. The Santa Rosa, CA area also pays well, as does the city of Bremerton, WA.
San Francisco, CA
Average Salary: $106,120 | See Job Openings
The annual median wage of a dental hygienist working in San Francisco, CA is $106,120, which is $36,840 more than the average pay in the profession.
New Haven, CT
Average Salary: $105,420 | See Job Openings
The annual median wage of a dental hygienist working in New Haven, CT is $105,420, which is $36,140 more than the average pay in the profession.
Vallejo, CA
Average Salary: $100,550 | See Job Openings
The annual median wage of a dental hygienist working in Vallejo, CA is $100,550, which is $31,270 more than the average pay in the profession.
Santa Rosa, CA
Average Salary: $98,000 | See Job Openings
The annual median wage of a dental hygienist working in Santa Rosa, CA is $98,000, which is $28,720 more than the average pay in the profession.
Bremerton, WA
Average Salary: $97,990 | See Job Openings
The annual median wage of a dental hygienist working in Bremerton, WA is $97,990, which is $28,710 more than the average pay in the profession.
