Looking At Average Dental Hygienist Salaries
Dental hygienist salary is consistently ranked among the
highest pay packages in the medical sector.
So, if you are interested in this career prospect; here is a look at what being a dental hygienist is all about, the educational qualifications needed for the job and dental hygienist pay along with information on what you can do to increase your earnings as a dental hygienist.
So, if you are interested in this career prospect; here is a look at what being a dental hygienist is all about, the educational qualifications needed for the job and dental hygienist pay along with information on what you can do to increase your earnings as a dental hygienist.
| Dental Hygienist Salary By Experience (Curated Data) | Per Hour | Per Annum | ||
| Low End | High End | Low End | High End | |
| Beginner (0-1 Years) | $20.09 | $34.88 | $41,790 | $72,560 |
| Intermediate (1-5 Years) | $23.12 | $40.01 | $48,100 | $83,220 |
| Senior (5+ Years) | $25.66 | $44.78 | $53,380 | $93,150 |
A
Closer Look At Dental Hygienist Salary
Dental hygienist pay can vary based on a number of factors; from the size of the clinic that a person works out of to the state that he/she practices in. It would also be safe to suggest that dental hygienist salary is commensurate to the educational qualifications of a professional. Most dental hygienists in urban areas routinely make more than their counterparts who practice out of rural areas and small towns. Apart from this, the level of experience that a professional has will also have a bearing on his dental hygienist salary.
A professional working as a dental hygienist may be offered hourly payment or a bimonthly or monthly salary depending on the establishment that he/she works in. The average hourly dental hygienist salary range is $20.09 to $44.78 while the median hourly wages stand at $32.80/hour. It is also normal for some dental hygienists to charge a commission per patient in lieu of a fixed salary. Other factors such as whether the dental hygienist works part time or full time, the nature of work and whether the employer offers bonuses will all impact the take home salary of a professional.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 10% of the professionals in the field make less than $22 an hour while 10% make well over $43/hour; this puts the annual median earnings of dental hygienists at $68,000.
The benefits and perks
The benefits offered to a dental hygienist professional apart from the dental hygienist pay are based on a plethora of factors. These perks can range from paid vacations to the regular health and dental insurance plans for the professional and his family. Many establishments will also offer bonuses for exceeding performance goals. As a rule, full time employees enjoy better benefits than part time dental hygienists; particularly professionals who work with large hospitals, dental practices, research centers and in government capacity with schools etc. Another distinctive advantage of working as a dental hygienist is the flexibility that part time employees enjoy in terms of work hours.
Location and It's Impact On Dental Hygienist Salary
The location of the job is a crucial factor that can impact dental hygienist salary; the states which are in the top 5 spots for offering the highest salary for the position include:
Does experience & training affect dental hygienist salary?
Apart from the location of employment, another important factor that can impact dental hygienist salary is the experience that a professional has. For instance, the median salary for a dental hygienist who has just a year's worth of experience to his/her credit stands at $45,000 or below as opposed to the impressive $68,000 plus that professionals with a decade or more experience can draw.
The level of training is another factor that will be closely considered when offering a pay package. Needless to say, a professional who just has a certificate earned after completing a training course at a vocational institute will earn less than a dental hygienist with an associate's degree while a person who holds a bachelor's degree can expected to make significantly more.
Dental hygienist pay can vary based on a number of factors; from the size of the clinic that a person works out of to the state that he/she practices in. It would also be safe to suggest that dental hygienist salary is commensurate to the educational qualifications of a professional. Most dental hygienists in urban areas routinely make more than their counterparts who practice out of rural areas and small towns. Apart from this, the level of experience that a professional has will also have a bearing on his dental hygienist salary.
A professional working as a dental hygienist may be offered hourly payment or a bimonthly or monthly salary depending on the establishment that he/she works in. The average hourly dental hygienist salary range is $20.09 to $44.78 while the median hourly wages stand at $32.80/hour. It is also normal for some dental hygienists to charge a commission per patient in lieu of a fixed salary. Other factors such as whether the dental hygienist works part time or full time, the nature of work and whether the employer offers bonuses will all impact the take home salary of a professional.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 10% of the professionals in the field make less than $22 an hour while 10% make well over $43/hour; this puts the annual median earnings of dental hygienists at $68,000.
The benefits and perks
The benefits offered to a dental hygienist professional apart from the dental hygienist pay are based on a plethora of factors. These perks can range from paid vacations to the regular health and dental insurance plans for the professional and his family. Many establishments will also offer bonuses for exceeding performance goals. As a rule, full time employees enjoy better benefits than part time dental hygienists; particularly professionals who work with large hospitals, dental practices, research centers and in government capacity with schools etc. Another distinctive advantage of working as a dental hygienist is the flexibility that part time employees enjoy in terms of work hours.
Location and It's Impact On Dental Hygienist Salary
The location of the job is a crucial factor that can impact dental hygienist salary; the states which are in the top 5 spots for offering the highest salary for the position include:
- Alaska - $90,740 per year
- California - $90,220 per year
- Washington - $87,810 per year
- District of Columbia - $86,320 per year
- Nevada - $83,930 per year
Does experience & training affect dental hygienist salary?
Apart from the location of employment, another important factor that can impact dental hygienist salary is the experience that a professional has. For instance, the median salary for a dental hygienist who has just a year's worth of experience to his/her credit stands at $45,000 or below as opposed to the impressive $68,000 plus that professionals with a decade or more experience can draw.
The level of training is another factor that will be closely considered when offering a pay package. Needless to say, a professional who just has a certificate earned after completing a training course at a vocational institute will earn less than a dental hygienist with an associate's degree while a person who holds a bachelor's degree can expected to make significantly more.
Dental hygienists
careers are among the fastest growing employment prospects in the
medical sector, according to the figures gathered by the US Department
of Labor Statistics. A 30% growth is expected in the field in the ten
years between 2006 to 2016. The growing demand for qualified
professionals along with the impressive dental hygienist salary and
perks makes this a viable career choice.
Dental care is an integral part of overall health maintenance and well being; with most insurance policies offering some form of dental coverage, an increasing number of people are taking advantage of the stupendous technological advancements in the fields of dental science and orthodontics. This has led to a huge demand for dental hygienists; as a matter of fact, there is no shortage of job prospects for qualified professionals.
What do you have to do to earn a dental hygienist salary?
A dental hygienist usually works with a dentist and is responsible for preventative dental care including undertaking procedures such as dental cleaning, plaque removal and educating the patients about the proper dental hygiene measures that they need to take in between visits to the dentist.
Apart from this, a dental hygienist will also routinely conduct diagnostic procedures such as gum x-rays to determine the presence of gum diseases or any other dental problems. Once the tests and the preliminary examination are taken care of by the dental hygienist, the patient is then sent to the dentist for advice on remedial initiatives to tackle dental problems. Dental hygienists also handle anesthesia administration during tooth extractions and other procedures.
The educational qualifications required to work as a dental hygienist
A 2 year associate's degree in dental hygiene is the minimum and most basic form of education required to earn a dental hygienist salary. The educational requirements will vary based on the specific aspect of dental hygiene that a professional is interested in practicing.
For instance, to work at a private practice, an associate's degree should suffice; on the other hand, a person who intends to work with a public school, administrative, teaching or research establishment will need to earn a bachelor's degree. These courses are offered by several technical and community colleges in most states. To qualify for such a program, a person interested in working as a dental hygienist will need to take the perquisite subjects at the high school level such as English, math, health and sciences.
Dental care is an integral part of overall health maintenance and well being; with most insurance policies offering some form of dental coverage, an increasing number of people are taking advantage of the stupendous technological advancements in the fields of dental science and orthodontics. This has led to a huge demand for dental hygienists; as a matter of fact, there is no shortage of job prospects for qualified professionals.
What do you have to do to earn a dental hygienist salary?
A dental hygienist usually works with a dentist and is responsible for preventative dental care including undertaking procedures such as dental cleaning, plaque removal and educating the patients about the proper dental hygiene measures that they need to take in between visits to the dentist.
Apart from this, a dental hygienist will also routinely conduct diagnostic procedures such as gum x-rays to determine the presence of gum diseases or any other dental problems. Once the tests and the preliminary examination are taken care of by the dental hygienist, the patient is then sent to the dentist for advice on remedial initiatives to tackle dental problems. Dental hygienists also handle anesthesia administration during tooth extractions and other procedures.
The educational qualifications required to work as a dental hygienist
A 2 year associate's degree in dental hygiene is the minimum and most basic form of education required to earn a dental hygienist salary. The educational requirements will vary based on the specific aspect of dental hygiene that a professional is interested in practicing.
For instance, to work at a private practice, an associate's degree should suffice; on the other hand, a person who intends to work with a public school, administrative, teaching or research establishment will need to earn a bachelor's degree. These courses are offered by several technical and community colleges in most states. To qualify for such a program, a person interested in working as a dental hygienist will need to take the perquisite subjects at the high school level such as English, math, health and sciences.
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