Dental Hygienists salary
Dental Hygienists earn a median of $98,100 a year ($47.16/hr) in the U.S. – from $59,320 in Puerto Rico to $137,220 in District of Columbia. Enter your pay below to see how you compare.
Median pay, United States$47.16/hr · $98,100 a year
Pay range
90% earn more$74,880$36.00/hr
75% earn more$83,570$40.18/hr
half earn more, half less$98,100$47.16/hr
25% earn more$108,480$52.16/hr
top 10% earn more$126,050$60.60/hr
pulled up by top earners$98,990$47.59/hr
How does my pay compare?
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Pay by state
States ranked by median annual wage for dental hygienists. Tap a state for its minimum wage.
320 jobs · $65.97/hr$137,220
790 jobs · $63.79/hr$132,690
6,330 jobs · $63.06/hr$131,160
24,500 jobs · $60.06/hr$124,930
3,600 jobs · $58.69/hr$122,080
1,510 jobs · $55.43/hr$115,290
4,270 jobs · $52.68/hr$109,580
3,500 jobs · $51.84/hr$107,830
7,230 jobs · $51.46/hr$107,040
13,660 jobs · $51.03/hr$106,130
4,110 jobs · $49.99/hr$103,970
3,770 jobs · $49.50/hr$102,950
1,360 jobs · $48.68/hr$101,250
4,530 jobs · $48.56/hr$101,010
3,240 jobs · $48.41/hr$100,690
6,850 jobs · $48.39/hr$100,640
16,380 jobs · $47.71/hr$99,240
750 jobs · $47.55/hr$98,910
860 jobs · $47.33/hr$98,440
6,690 jobs · $47.04/hr$97,850
1,060 jobs · $46.96/hr$97,680
2,860 jobs · $46.91/hr$97,580
830 jobs · $46.91/hr$97,570
560 jobs · $46.86/hr$97,470
8,970 jobs · $46.48/hr$96,670
5,080 jobs · $46.41/hr$96,540
1,420 jobs · $46.12/hr$95,940
7,440 jobs · $45.91/hr$95,490
2,060 jobs · $45.51/hr$94,650
3,810 jobs · $44.59/hr$92,750
1,280 jobs · $44.51/hr$92,580
5,020 jobs · $44.39/hr$92,330
630 jobs · $44.33/hr$92,210
11,980 jobs · $44.22/hr$91,980
3,780 jobs · $43.81/hr$91,120
660 jobs · $43.53/hr$90,530
8,630 jobs · $42.78/hr$88,990
770 jobs · $41.78/hr$86,910
1,740 jobs · $41.71/hr$86,760
2,690 jobs · $40.98/hr$85,240
500 jobs · $40.93/hr$85,130
4,570 jobs · $40.69/hr$84,640
3,160 jobs · $40.55/hr$84,340
2,440 jobs · $40.39/hr$84,010
8,640 jobs · $40.28/hr$83,790
7,970 jobs · $38.76/hr$80,610
2,070 jobs · $37.90/hr$78,830
1,250 jobs · $35.50/hr$73,840
1,140 jobs · $32.35/hr$67,280
3,170 jobs · $29.41/hr$61,160
jobs n/a · $28.52/hr$59,320
Related jobs
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), SOC code 29-1292. Wages exclude the self-employed. All jobs · Minimum wage by state
Questions & answers
How much do dental hygienists make?
The median wage for dental hygienists in the U.S. was $47.16 an hour or $98,100 a year in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $83,570 and $108,480 a year.
Which state pays dental hygienists the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median wage for dental hygienists: $137,220 a year. The lowest published median is in Puerto Rico at $59,320. Living costs also differ a lot between states.
How many dental hygienists are there?
BLS estimates 222,740 dental hygienists were employed in the U.S. in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
What is the difference between median and average pay?
The median is the middle wage: half of workers earn more and half earn less. The average (mean) adds everyone up and divides, so a few very high earners pull it up. The median is usually the better guide to typical pay.
What does the 10th or 90th percentile mean?
The 10th percentile is the wage that only 10% of workers earn less than – often entry-level pay. The 90th percentile is the wage that only 10% earn more than – usually the most experienced or highest-paid workers.