Salary Range & Percentiles
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$74,880
- 25th Percentile — Junior$83,570
- 50th Percentile — Median$98,100
- 75th Percentile — Senior$108,480
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$126,050
The top 10% of Dental Hygienists earn $126,050 or more per year. Entry-level professionals can expect to start around $74,880, with significant growth over the first 5 years.
Salary by State
Geographic salary comparison
| State | Avg Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $131,530 | +32.9% |
| California | $128,110 | +29.4% |
| District of Columbia | $127,910 | +29.2% |
| Alaska | $122,560 | +23.8% |
| Oregon | $120,470 | +21.7% |
| Nevada | $114,360 | +15.5% |
| Colorado | $110,030 | +11.2% |
| Maryland | $109,090 | +10.2% |
| Virginia | $105,120 | +6.2% |
| New Jersey | $104,410 | +5.5% |
| Minnesota | $103,830 | +4.9% |
| New York | $103,640 | +4.7% |
| New Hampshire | $102,640 | +3.7% |
| Massachusetts | $102,160 | +3.2% |
| Arizona | $101,450 | +2.5% |
| Delaware | $100,660 | +1.7% |
| Connecticut | $98,720 | -0.3% |
| Oklahoma | $98,000 | -1.0% |
| Vermont | $97,540 | -1.5% |
| Montana | $96,730 | -2.3% |
| Maine | $96,440 | -2.6% |
| Texas | $96,240 | -2.8% |
| Idaho | $95,500 | -3.5% |
| New Mexico | $94,890 | -4.1% |
| Wisconsin | $94,180 | -4.9% |
| Hawaii | $93,660 | -5.4% |
| North Carolina | $93,640 | -5.4% |
| Illinois | $91,820 | -7.2% |
| Georgia | $91,220 | -7.8% |
| Ohio | $89,900 | -9.2% |
| North Dakota | $89,750 | -9.3% |
| Indiana | $89,660 | -9.4% |
| South Dakota | $89,180 | -9.9% |
| Nebraska | $88,990 | -10.1% |
| Rhode Island | $88,660 | -10.4% |
| Missouri | $88,430 | -10.7% |
| Florida | $88,320 | -10.8% |
| Utah | $87,770 | -11.3% |
| Tennessee | $87,420 | -11.7% |
| Iowa | $86,640 | -12.5% |
| Michigan | $85,940 | -13.2% |
| Arkansas | $85,660 | -13.5% |
| South Carolina | $84,980 | -14.2% |
| Pennsylvania | $84,260 | -14.9% |
| Kansas (est.) | $84,142 | -15.0% |
| Louisiana | $83,160 | -16.0% |
| Wyoming | $82,320 | -16.8% |
| Kentucky | $78,950 | -20.2% |
| West Virginia | $71,290 | -28.0% |
| Mississippi | $68,630 | -30.7% |
| Alabama | $60,850 | -38.5% |
What Factors Affect Dental Hygienists Salary?
Key factors affecting compensation
Pay for Dental Hygienists is influenced by geographic location, years of experience, employer type, and educational background. Location alone is a large factor: Washington pays an average of $131,530, while Alabama pays $60,850 — a gap of $70,680 per year.
The middle half of Dental Hygienists earn between $83,570 and $108,480 per year. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $74,880, while the top 10% earn more than $126,050.
These figures are the wages employers report to BLS: base pay plus commissions, production bonuses and tips. They exclude overtime pay, shift differentials, year-end bonuses, benefits and self-employed workers, so total compensation can be higher than the numbers shown.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average salary for Dental Hygienists?
The average salary for Dental Hygienists in the United States is $98,990 per year, with a median of $98,100.
What is the starting salary for Dental Hygienists?
Entry-level Dental Hygienists typically earn between $74,880 and $83,570 per year depending on location and employer.
What state pays Dental Hygienists the most?
Washington pays Dental Hygienists the most at $131,530 per year on average, followed by California ($128,110) and District of Columbia ($127,910).
How much do Dental Hygienists make per hour?
Based on the average annual salary of $98,990, Dental Hygienists earn approximately $47.59 per hour (based on 2,080 working hours/year).
Is Dental Hygienists a good career in 2026?
BLS counts 222,740 Dental Hygienists jobs in the United States, with a mean annual wage of $98,990 and a median of $98,100 (OEWS May 2025). This site does not publish job-growth projections; the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook covers the outlook for each occupation.
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