Dental Hygienist salary
The median dental hygienist pay is $54 per hour, or about $112,320 a year, based on 345 postings with published pay from 13 employers. Collected October 15, 2026.
- 345roles with published pay
- $54median pay per hour
- $45–$65typical published range
- 13employers hiring
Pay percentiles, per hour and per year
| Level | Per hour | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $44.54 | $92,652 |
| 25th percentile | $49 | $101,920 |
| Median | $54 | $112,320 |
| 75th percentile | $58.50 | $121,680 |
| 90th percentile | $65 | $135,200 |
Dental Hygienist salary by state, BLS data
Nationally the BLS median is $45.32 per hour, about $94,260 a year, across 219,070 workers. Pick a state for its metro areas, rankings and open roles.
| State | Median / hr | Median / year | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $62.39 | $129,760 | 770 |
| District of Columbia | $61.49 | $127,900 | 330 |
| Washington | $60.27 | $125,370 | 5,140 |
| California | $58.21 | $121,080 | 22,940 |
| Oregon | $56.87 | $118,280 | 3,640 |
| Maryland | $50.55 | $105,140 | 3,780 |
| Nevada | $49.60 | $103,160 | 2,040 |
| New Jersey | $49.33 | $102,600 | 6,030 |
| Massachusetts | $48.46 | $100,790 | 6,780 |
| Delaware | $47.94 | $99,720 | 590 |
| Vermont | $47.83 | $99,490 | 520 |
| Minnesota | $47.58 | $98,970 | 4,660 |
| Virginia | $47.54 | $98,880 | 3,580 |
| Arizona | $46.89 | $97,530 | 5,040 |
| Hawaii | $46.52 | $96,770 | 1,060 |
| New Hampshire | $46.51 | $96,740 | 1,540 |
| Illinois | $46.39 | $96,490 | 8,740 |
| New Mexico | $46.35 | $96,410 | 1,400 |
| Connecticut | $46.28 | $96,270 | 3,320 |
| Oklahoma | $46.09 | $95,860 | 2,750 |
| New York | $45.94 | $95,560 | 10,350 |
| Montana | $45.55 | $94,740 | 950 |
| Texas | $45.43 | $94,490 | 16,010 |
| Indiana | $43.41 | $90,290 | 5,110 |
| North Carolina | $43.14 | $89,720 | 7,030 |
| Maine | $42.65 | $88,700 | 1,000 |
| Idaho | $40.86 | $84,990 | 1,800 |
| Nebraska | $40.58 | $84,400 | 1,400 |
| South Dakota | $40.53 | $84,300 | 730 |
| Wisconsin | $40.31 | $83,850 | 5,620 |
| Arkansas | $40.27 | $83,760 | 1,790 |
| Georgia | $40.15 | $83,500 | 7,360 |
| Missouri | $40.03 | $83,270 | 2,840 |
| North Dakota | $39.91 | $83,010 | 580 |
| Rhode Island | $39.84 | $82,870 | 850 |
| Iowa | $39.79 | $82,770 | 2,020 |
| Utah | $39.72 | $82,610 | 3,940 |
| Wyoming | $39.53 | $82,220 | 480 |
| Kansas | $39.45 | $82,060 | 2,460 |
| Tennessee | $39.33 | $81,810 | 4,550 |
| South Carolina | $39.29 | $81,710 | 3,200 |
| Ohio | $39.24 | $81,620 | 8,500 |
| Pennsylvania | $39.19 | $81,510 | 8,640 |
| Florida | $38.99 | $81,090 | 13,860 |
| Michigan | $38.94 | $80,990 | 8,320 |
| Louisiana | $38.90 | $80,900 | 2,720 |
| Kentucky | $37.23 | $77,440 | 2,140 |
| West Virginia | $34.94 | $72,670 | 1,220 |
| Mississippi | $31.87 | $66,290 | 1,520 |
| Alabama | $28.77 | $59,840 | 2,840 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Dental Hygienists.
Highest-paying metro areas
| Metro area | Median / hr | Median / year | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $64.91 | $135,010 | 1,560 |
| Vallejo, CA | $64.64 | $134,450 | 190 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $63.47 | $132,010 | 280 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $63.41 | $131,890 | 2,700 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $63.27 | $131,610 | 320 |
| Fairbanks-College, AK | $62.55 | $130,110 | 100 |
| Anchorage, AK | $62.39 | $129,780 | 460 |
| Napa, CA | $61.46 | $127,840 | 100 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $61.11 | $127,120 | 170 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $59.88 | $124,550 | 350 |
Dental Hygienist pay by state
| State | Postings | Median / hour | Median / year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 5 | $69 | $143,520 |
| Washington | 15 | $68.50 | $142,480 |
| Nevada | 5 | $64.50 | $134,160 |
| Oregon | 6 | $64.50 | $134,160 |
| Virginia | 15 | $62.50 | $130,000 |
| Maine | 3 | $59.50 | $123,760 |
| California | 49 | $57.50 | $119,600 |
| Texas | 14 | $57.50 | $119,600 |
| Missouri | 5 | $57.50 | $119,600 |
| Minnesota | 9 | $57.50 | $119,600 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $57.50 | $119,600 |
| Colorado | 21 | $56.80 | $118,144 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $55 | $114,400 |
| New York | 16 | $52.50 | $109,200 |
| Louisiana | 5 | $52.50 | $109,200 |
| Illinois | 16 | $52.50 | $109,200 |
| North Dakota | 3 | $52.50 | $109,200 |
| Wisconsin | 35 | $52 | $108,160 |
| Ohio | 16 | $52 | $108,160 |
| Michigan | 7 | $51.50 | $107,120 |
Dental Hygienist wage offers in federal filings
What employers reported they would pay, alongside what they publish.
| State | Wage offers | Typical range / hr | Median / hr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 9 | $36–$42 | $39 |
Employer-reported wage offers in PERM and LCA filings with the U.S. Department of Labor, decided July 2025 – June 2026: 18 distinct offers, median $39.50 per hour. They are not job postings. The table lists states with at least 5 offers.
Who pays what
| Employer | Postings | Median / hour | Median / year |
|---|---|---|---|
| PDS Health | 93 | $57.50 | $119,600 |
| Benevis | 15 | $57.50 | $119,600 |
| Denver Health | 9 | $56.80 | $118,144 |
| Smile Brands | 97 | $55 | $114,400 |
| ClearChoice Dental Implant Centers | 1 | $55 | $114,400 |
| Aspen Dental | 105 | $52.50 | $109,200 |
| Dental Care Alliance | 11 | $52.50 | $109,200 |
| CommonSpirit Health | 1 | $44.30 | $92,144 |
| Ohio State Wexner Medical Center | 1 | $40.45 | $84,136 |
| Veterans Health Administration | 3 | $37.60 | $78,208 |
What moves your pay
- Experience and credentials: certifications and years in the specialty usually move you up the published range.
- Shift: nights, weekends and holidays often add a differential on top of the base range.
- Setting: academic centers, trauma hospitals and large systems often publish higher ranges than community sites.
- Location: pay follows local cost of living and demand, so compare cities, not only states.
Method
Figures are the midpoints of pay ranges that employers published in 345 postings from 13 employers, collected October 15, 2026. They are not survey estimates and do not include overtime or bonuses.
Common questions
How much does a dental hygienist make?
The median dental hygienist pay across 345 postings with published pay is $54 per hour, about $112,320 a year. Half of the postings fall between $49 and $58 per hour.
Which states pay dental hygienists the most?
Among states with at least 3 postings, the highest medians are Maryland ($69/hr), Washington ($68.50/hr), Nevada ($64.50/hr).
What do dental hygienists get paid at other employers in California?
- PDS HealthBellflower, CA$59.50/hr
- Smile BrandsRoseville, CA$57.50/hr
- Bae & Jang Dds IncBarstow, CA$50.80/hr
See all employers by name, how pay is moving and the roles that pay more.
Get the free pay reportFree for candidates · email onlyWhat do other employers pay dental hygienists near you?
Tell us your role and city. Within 24 hours you get an email with three things, by employer name. It costs you nothing, because employers pay us.
- 1Pay for your role at other employers
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
- 2What they are offering now
The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
- 3Roles open for you right now
Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.
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230+ Dental Hygienist roles in California, sent free by email
Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.
Your Hygienist pay reportCalifornia · pay published by employers and employer-reported wage offers in federal filings
1Pay for your role at other employers
- PDS HealthBellflower, CA · 35 postings$59.50/ hr$24–$85
- Smile BrandsRoseville, CA · 13 postings$57.50/ hr$50–$70
- Bae & Jang Dds IncBarstow, CA · 1 wage offer$50.80/ hr$51–$51
- Western Dental Services, Inc.Claremont, CA · 1 wage offer$45.00/ hr$45–$45
Median pay per hour, with the range each employer published or reported in federal filings.
2What they are offering now
49 Hygienist postings with published pay in California, 43 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 49 Hygienist roles
- Temporary Registered Dental HygienistPermanent$54.00–$75.00/ hour
- Registered Dental HygienistPermanent$47.00–$65.00/ hour
+ 47 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.