Dental hygienists salary in the United States
The median dental hygienist in the US earns $98,100 a year (about $47.16 an hour); the mean is $98,990. The middle half earns between $83,570 and $108,480. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, 222,740 employed.
| Measure | Annual | Hourly equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $74,880 | $36.00 |
| 25th percentile | $83,570 | $40.18 |
| Median | $98,100 | $47.16 |
| Mean | $98,990 | $47.59 |
| 75th percentile | $108,480 | $52.15 |
| 90th percentile | $126,050 | $60.60 |
Dental hygienists clean teeth, examine patients for signs of oral disease and provide preventive care. These figures are for employees; BLS reports hourly pay and converts it to a yearly figure.
Dental hygienists salary by state
Ranked by median annual wage. Click a state for its own page with the national comparison.
| State | Median | Mean | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $137,220 | $127,910 | 320 |
| Alaska | $132,690 | $122,560 | 790 |
| Washington | $131,160 | $131,530 | 6,330 |
| California | $124,930 | $128,110 | 24,500 |
| Oregon | $122,080 | $120,470 | 3,600 |
| Nevada | $115,290 | $114,360 | 1,510 |
| Colorado | $109,580 | $110,030 | 4,270 |
| Maryland | $107,830 | $109,090 | 3,500 |
| New Jersey | $107,040 | $104,410 | 7,230 |
| New York | $106,130 | $103,640 | 13,660 |
| Minnesota | $103,970 | $103,830 | 4,110 |
| Virginia | $102,950 | $105,120 | 3,770 |
| New Hampshire | $101,250 | $102,640 | 1,360 |
| Arizona | $101,010 | $101,450 | 4,530 |
| Connecticut | $100,690 | $98,720 | 3,240 |
| Massachusetts | $100,640 | $102,160 | 6,850 |
| Texas | $99,240 | $96,240 | 16,380 |
| Delaware | $98,910 | $100,660 | 750 |
| Montana | $98,440 | $96,730 | 860 |
| North Carolina | $97,850 | $93,640 | 6,690 |
| Maine | $97,680 | $96,440 | 1,060 |
| Oklahoma | $97,580 | $98,000 | 2,860 |
| Hawaii | $97,570 | $93,660 | 830 |
| Vermont | $97,470 | $97,540 | 560 |
| Illinois | $96,670 | $91,820 | 8,970 |
| Wisconsin | $96,540 | $94,180 | 5,080 |
| New Mexico | $95,940 | $94,890 | 1,420 |
| Georgia | $95,490 | $91,220 | 7,440 |
| Idaho | $94,650 | $95,500 | 2,060 |
| Missouri | $92,750 | $88,430 | 3,810 |
| Nebraska | $92,580 | $88,990 | 1,280 |
| Indiana | $92,330 | $89,660 | 5,020 |
| South Dakota | $92,210 | $89,180 | 630 |
| Florida | $91,980 | $88,320 | 11,980 |
| Utah | $91,120 | $87,770 | 3,780 |
| North Dakota | $90,530 | $89,750 | 660 |
| Ohio | $88,990 | $89,900 | 8,630 |
| Rhode Island | $86,910 | $88,660 | 770 |
| Arkansas | $86,760 | $85,660 | 1,740 |
| Louisiana | $85,240 | $83,160 | 2,690 |
| Wyoming | $85,130 | $82,320 | 500 |
| Tennessee | $84,640 | $87,420 | 4,570 |
| South Carolina | $84,340 | $84,980 | 3,160 |
| Iowa | $84,010 | $86,640 | 2,440 |
| Michigan | $83,790 | $85,940 | 8,640 |
| Pennsylvania | $80,610 | $84,260 | 7,970 |
| Kentucky | $78,830 | $78,950 | 2,070 |
| West Virginia | $73,840 | $71,290 | 1,250 |
| Mississippi | $67,280 | $68,630 | 1,140 |
| Alabama | $61,160 | $60,850 | 3,170 |
Other roles
- Dental assistants salaryMedian $48,070
- General dentists salaryMedian $170,950
- Orthodontists salaryMedian $289,140
- Oral surgeons salaryMedian $352,220
- Prosthodontists salaryMedian $311,180
Have your own number? Add it anonymously or look for open roles on the job board. Buying or selling a practice? See dental practices for sale by state.
Common questions
How much do dental hygienists make in the United States?
The median annual wage for dental hygienists is $98,100 (about $47.16 an hour) and the mean is $98,990, according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. The middle half of dental hygienists earn between $83,570 and $108,480.
How many dental hygienists are employed in the US?
BLS estimates 222,740 employed dental hygienists in May 2025. The count covers wage-and-salary employment only.
Which state pays dental hygienists the most?
By median annual wage, District of Columbia is highest at $137,220, and Alabama is lowest at $61,160 among the 50 states and districts with published figures. Cost of living differs a lot between them, so compare after housing costs, not just before.
Do these numbers include practice owners?
No. BLS surveys employers about the people on their payroll. Owners who take profit from their own practice are mostly outside the survey, so a dentist-owner's income can differ a lot from the wage figures here.