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Wages* | Low (5th percentile) | Average |
---|---|---|
Starting | $37.13 | $50.79 |
Overall | $46.50 | $56.14 |
Top | $49.15 | $61.76 |
10 States Where Dental Hygienists Earn the Most Money
Rank | State | 2017 Mean Annual Wage |
---|---|---|
1 | Alaska | $107,190 |
2 | California | $97,420 |
3 | Washington | $91,070 |
4 | New Mexico | $89,740 |
US News and Report recently ranked dental hygiene seventeenth on its 2018 list of the 100 Best Jobs. It achieved an overall score of 7.4/10 and the prestigious ranking of first on the Best Health Care Support Jobs of 2018.
Dental hygiene is physically hard Dental hygienists aren’t running marathons every day, but our neck, back, arms, and hands are. We use very precise movement-so it doesn’t really appear to be physically demanding-but this repetitive motion certainly takes its toll.
The median salary for a dental hygienist is $73,000 a year, according to the U.S. Labor Department. That’s higher than the median salary of $69,000 for a registered nurse. In big cities, dental hygienists can earn six figures.
Average pay for RNs was within around $1,100 of the hygienist average. Due to its higher cost of living, California was – not surprisingly – the highest-paying state for RNs, at $102,700. The gap was less than for dental hygienists to the second highest-paying state. Hawaii nurses earned an average of $96,990.
How Much Does a Dental Hygienist Make? Dental Hygienists made a median salary of $76,220 in 2019. The best- paid 25 percent made $91,560 that year, while the lowest – paid 25 percent made $64,260.
Decent living definition This translates to an average annual salary of about $48,672. As such, a $76,220 pay would be more than the national average and a pretty decent income, of course, depending on where one resides.
Dental hygienists typically need an associate’s degree in dental hygiene. Programs typically take 3 years to complete.
More than half of dental hygienists feel stressed by their jobs on a daily or weekly basis, and 67% believe a supervisor or workload is the cause of the stress , according to a survey conducted by RDH eVillage in January 2015. A silver lining is that the stress does not spill over into dental hygienists ‘ personal lives.
Dental Hygiene Program Length & Cost in California
Type of Program | Length | Cost |
---|---|---|
Associate Degree | 20 – 30 Months | $5,310 – $58,970 |
Bachelor’s Degree | 4 – years | $24,600 – $107,850 |
Master’s Degree | Between 1 and 2 years | $32,060 – $99,020 |
For the last three years, the surveys have asked dental hygienists about their perceptions on how hard it is to find employment . In 2014, 86% said it was difficult to find work. In 2015, the percentage slipped to 78%. For the recent 2016 survey, 63% said it is difficult .
Depending on state law, hygienists might assist dentists by mixing ingredients for fillings or prosthetics, apply sealants or place periodontal dressings. Although the occupation does not require advanced mathematics such as calculus, hygienists need to be familiar with certain fundamental math principles.
Pros and Cons of Being a Dental Hygienist PRO: Growing employment . CON: Not much career variety . PRO: Great salary. CON: Can be repetitive. PRO: Minimal schooling. CON: Occasionally unpleasant patients. PRO: Flexibility .
It is difficult and very competitive to get into dental school, because more and more students are applying each year. Dentistry remains as pretty much the only area in healthcare that hasn’t been fully taken over by managed care.