SOC 29-1292 · May 2025
Dental Hygienist Salary
Dental Hygienists in the US earn a median of $98,100 a year ($47.59 an hour on average), according to the BLS May 2025 wage survey. Average Dental Hygienist pay climbed from $77,230 in 2019 to $98,990 in 2025, a +28.2% change in 6 years.
Median annual
$98,100
Half of all Dental Hygienists in the United States earn more than this figure, half earn less. From the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release.
Wage trend
+28.2% since 2019 · +5.4% YoY
Hourly
$47.59
Job growth 2025-35
+8%
US workers
222,740
BLS series
Annual median wage for Dental Hygienists in All Industries in the United States
Salary range
From entry to top decile
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for Dental Hygienists is $74,880 – $126,050.
Percentile distribution
USD · annual
10th
$74,880
25th
$83,570
Median
$98,100
75th
$108,480
90th
$126,050
Percentile bands
Where your pay would sit
Percentile bands
Annual wages at each point of the BLS distribution for Dental Hygienists. Where you sit depends on experience, employer, location and credentials.
| Percentile | What it means | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | 10% earn less. Common for new entrants | $74,880 |
| 25th percentile | A quarter earn less | $83,570 |
| Median | Half earn more, half earn less | $98,100 |
| 75th percentile | A quarter earn more | $108,480 |
| 90th percentile | 10% earn more. Often senior or specialist staff | $126,050 |
Geography
Dental Hygienist pay by state
Dental Hygienists earn the most in D.C. ($137,220, +40% against the national median) and the least in Alabama ($61,160). BLS publishes a May 2025 estimate for this occupation in 50 of 51 states and D.C.
National median
$98,100
Highest-paying states for dental hygienists
| State | Annual median | vs national | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| D.C. | $137,220 | +40% | 320 |
| Alaska | $132,690 | +35% | 790 |
| Washington | $131,160 | +34% | 6,330 |
| California | $124,930 | +27% | 24,500 |
| Oregon | $122,080 | +24% | 3,600 |
| Nevada | $115,290 | +18% | 1,510 |
| Colorado | $109,580 | +12% | 4,270 |
| Maryland | $107,830 | +10% | 3,500 |
| New Jersey | $107,040 | +9% | 7,230 |
| New York | $106,130 | +8% | 13,660 |
All 50 states, highest to lowest
| State | Annual median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| D.C. | $137,220 | 320 |
| Alaska | $132,690 | 790 |
| Washington | $131,160 | 6,330 |
| California | $124,930 | 24,500 |
| Oregon | $122,080 | 3,600 |
| Nevada | $115,290 | 1,510 |
| Colorado | $109,580 | 4,270 |
| Maryland | $107,830 | 3,500 |
| New Jersey | $107,040 | 7,230 |
| New York | $106,130 | 13,660 |
| Minnesota | $103,970 | 4,110 |
| Virginia | $102,950 | 3,770 |
| New Hampshire | $101,250 | 1,360 |
| Arizona | $101,010 | 4,530 |
| Connecticut | $100,690 | 3,240 |
| Massachusetts | $100,640 | 6,850 |
| Texas | $99,240 | 16,380 |
| Delaware | $98,910 | 750 |
| Montana | $98,440 | 860 |
| North Carolina | $97,850 | 6,690 |
| Maine | $97,680 | 1,060 |
| Oklahoma | $97,580 | 2,860 |
| Hawaii | $97,570 | 830 |
| Vermont | $97,470 | 560 |
| Illinois | $96,670 | 8,970 |
| Wisconsin | $96,540 | 5,080 |
| New Mexico | $95,940 | 1,420 |
| Georgia | $95,490 | 7,440 |
| Idaho | $94,650 | 2,060 |
| Missouri | $92,750 | 3,810 |
| Nebraska | $92,580 | 1,280 |
| Indiana | $92,330 | 5,020 |
| South Dakota | $92,210 | 630 |
| Florida | $91,980 | 11,980 |
| Utah | $91,120 | 3,780 |
| North Dakota | $90,530 | 660 |
| Ohio | $88,990 | 8,630 |
| Rhode Island | $86,910 | 770 |
| Arkansas | $86,760 | 1,740 |
| Louisiana | $85,240 | 2,690 |
| Wyoming | $85,130 | 500 |
| Tennessee | $84,640 | 4,570 |
| South Carolina | $84,340 | 3,160 |
| Iowa | $84,010 | 2,440 |
| Michigan | $83,790 | 8,640 |
| Pennsylvania | $80,610 | 7,970 |
| Kentucky | $78,830 | 2,070 |
| West Virginia | $73,840 | 1,250 |
| Mississippi | $67,280 | 1,140 |
| Alabama | $61,160 | 3,170 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state estimates, May 2025, all industries.
What affects this salary
Pay drivers for Dental Hygienists
Dental hygienists clean teeth, screen for oral disease, take X-rays, and educate patients on oral hygiene. They work alongside dentists in private practice and require an associate's degree from an accredited program plus state licensure.
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread is $74,880 – $126,050. That gap reflects experience, certification, employer type, geographic cost of living, and shift differentials where applicable.
Geography matters. The best-paying states for this role are D.C., Alaska and Washington. Pay in D.C. runs 2.2 times the level in Alabama, before any adjustment for cost of living.
Getting in. BLS lists the typical entry-level education as associate's degree, and projects about 15,000 openings a year over 2025-35. Employment is projected to grow 8% over the same period, against 3.5% for all occupations.
Frequently asked
Questions readers ask
Frequently asked
What is the average Dental Hygienist salary in the US?
How much does a Dental Hygienist make an hour?
How much do Dental Hygienists make at the low and high end?
Which state pays Dental Hygienists the most?
Is the average Dental Hygienist salary higher than the median?
Is Dental Hygienist a growing career?
Open positions
Open Dental Hygienist roles hiring now
Browse current Dental Hygienist listings on Indeed and ZipRecruiter, filtered to your role.
Source & methodology
Wage and employment figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2025 release. Standard Occupational Classification: 29-1292. Figures represent the national median, mean, and percentile distribution across all employers and industries. Hourly equivalents assume a 2,080-hour work year. Job growth, annual openings and typical education are from the BLS Employment Projections program, 2025-35; see the Occupational Outlook Handbook entry. Read our methodology for details on how the data is sourced, transformed, and refreshed.