Dental Hygienist Salaries & Wage Percentiles
Data updated · Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025 · Methodology
Administer oral hygiene care, examine patients for signs of oral diseases, and provide preventive dental care.
National Wage Percentile Spectrum
Empirical distribution from entry-level apprentice (10th percentile) to senior principal / master tier (90th percentile).
Nationwide State Salary Rankings
State-by-state empirical labor compensation benchmarked against local cost of living and purchasing power.
| Rank | State | Median Salary | Hourly Rate | CoL Adjusted Real Wage | Total Employed | Top Metro in State | CoL Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Alaska AK | $132,300 | $63.61/hr | $107,648 | 560 | Anchorage, AK | 122.9 |
| #2 | California CA | $122,825 | $59.05/hr | $83,954 | 23,960 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 146.3 |
| #3 | Washington WA | $122,584 | $58.93/hr | $108,674 | 5,380 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 112.8 |
| #4 | District of Columbia DC | $119,170 | $57.30/hr | $74,996 | 2,200 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 158.9 |
| #5 | Nevada NV | $116,186 | $55.86/hr | $106,593 | 1,400 | Carson City, NV | 109.0 |
| #6 | Oregon OR | $115,080 | $55.33/hr | $95,740 | 3,670 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 120.2 |
| #7 | Colorado CO | $110,930 | $53.33/hr | $94,650 | 3,800 | Boulder, CO | 117.2 |
| #8 | Minnesota MN | $103,082 | $49.56/hr | $96,972 | 3,290 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 106.3 |
Top Metropolitan Areas for Maximum Earnings
High-yield metros commanding premier compensation, rent affordability, and living wage coverage.
Career Ladder & Progression Stages
Typical milestones from entry level to senior roles.
Associate's degree (most common O*NET requirement); entry into the field
Demonstrated results in role; works independently on core responsibilities; state RDH license
Full professional competence; leads projects or a small team; state RDH license
Owns budget, hiring and outcomes for a department or large program
Executive or principal scope; sets strategy across the organization or profession
Skill-Adjacent Career Opportunities
Direct lateral transitions capitalizing on shared occupational competencies and BLS wage differentials.
Dental Hygienist: Career Ladder, Industry Hub & Regional Parity
Navigate parent industry benchmarks, lateral career progressions, and cross-pillar living cost calculators.
Healthcare Directory
Compare wage percentiles, required certifications, and senior salary caps across all Healthcare occupations.
Adjacent Career Paths
Living Cost & Tax Parity
Occupational Labor Economics & Frequently Asked Questions
Explore national wage percentiles (10th to 90th), top-paying metropolitan areas, and career ladder progression for Dental Hygienist. Official 2026 economic data for Dental Hygienist compiled from Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS surveys, HUD Fair Market Rents, and statutory tax codes.
Quick answers
National compensation benchmarks for Dental Hygienist range across the 10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentiles based on BLS OEWS labor market statistics.
Dental Hygienist: Where the Pay Is Highest
The national median for Dental Hygienist is $98,100 per year ($47.16/hour). BLS OEWS publishes this occupation in 378 metropolitan areas, where median pay ranges from $59,320 in San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR to $146,760 in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA.
Top-paying metropolitan areas for Dental Hygienist
| Metropolitan area | Median annual wage | Vs national |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $146,760 | +49.6% |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $139,990 | +42.7% |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $136,210 | +38.8% |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $135,990 | +38.6% |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $133,740 | +36.3% |
| Anchorage, AK | $132,740 | +35.3% |
| Fairbanks-College, AK | $131,860 | +34.4% |
| Napa, CA | $131,370 | +33.9% |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $131,040 | +33.6% |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $130,600 | +33.1% |
| Boulder, CO | $130,000 | +32.5% |
| Vallejo, CA | $128,570 | +31.1% |