Dental hygienist salary

Dental hygienists in the U.S. earn a median $98,100 a year.

Median pay
$98,100
Median hourly
$47.16
Typical range
$74,880–$126,050
Jobs
222,740

Pay range

Annual pay percentiles for dental hygienists in the U.S.
PercentileAnnual pay
10th (entry level)$74,880
25th$83,570
Median$98,100
75th$108,480
90th (top earners)$126,050

Pay in the biggest metro areas

Median pay by metro area
Metro areaMedian payJobs
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$109,72014,230
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$122,9807,940
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX$101,8707,050
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$100,2606,470
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$101,9905,150
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA$100,3704,710
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD$100,8204,180
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI$84,4803,780
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$146,7603,780
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$133,7403,500

Dental hygienist salary by state

  1. –District of Columbia$137,220
  2. 1Alaska$132,690
  3. 2Washington$131,160
  4. 3California$124,930
  5. 4Oregon$122,080
  6. 5Nevada$115,290
  7. 6Colorado$109,580
  8. 7Maryland$107,830
  9. 8New Jersey$107,040
  10. 9New York$106,130
  11. 10Minnesota$103,970
  12. 11Virginia$102,950
  13. 12New Hampshire$101,250
  14. 13Arizona$101,010
  15. 14Connecticut$100,690
  16. 15Massachusetts$100,640
  17. 16Texas$99,240
  18. 17Delaware$98,910
  19. 18Montana$98,440
  20. 19North Carolina$97,850
  21. 20Maine$97,680
  22. 21Oklahoma$97,580
  23. 22Hawaii$97,570
  24. 23Vermont$97,470
  25. 24Illinois$96,670
  26. 25Wisconsin$96,540
  27. 26New Mexico$95,940
  28. 27Georgia$95,490
  29. 28Idaho$94,650
  30. 29Missouri$92,750
  31. 30Nebraska$92,580
  32. 31Indiana$92,330
  33. 32South Dakota$92,210
  34. 33Florida$91,980
  35. 34Utah$91,120
  36. 35North Dakota$90,530
  37. 36Ohio$88,990
  38. 37Rhode Island$86,910
  39. 38Arkansas$86,760
  40. 39Louisiana$85,240
  41. 40Wyoming$85,130
  42. 41Tennessee$84,640
  43. 42South Carolina$84,340
  44. 43Iowa$84,010
  45. 44Michigan$83,790
  46. 45Pennsylvania$80,610
  47. 46Kentucky$78,830
  48. 47West Virginia$73,840
  49. 48Mississippi$67,280
  50. 49Alabama$61,160
  51. –Puerto Rico$59,320

Start training

See what the work is like and how long training takes, then compare schools.

Dental hygiene schoolsHow to become a dental hygienist

Frequently asked questions

How much do dental hygienists make?

The median pay for dental hygienists in the U.S. is $98,100 a year ($47.16 an hour), according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $74,880, and the top 10% earn over $126,050.

Which states pay dental hygienists the most?

The top-paying states are Alaska ($132,690), Washington ($131,160), California ($124,930), Oregon ($122,080), Nevada ($115,290).

How can a dental hygienist earn more?

Pay rises with experience, certifications, specialized skills, overtime and willingness to travel. Union jobs and employers in high-cost metro areas often pay more. Our guide on how to become a dental hygienist covers the certifications that matter most.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (Dental Hygienists, SOC 29-1292). Figures exclude self-employed workers.