How much does a dental hygienist make? Dental Hygienist salary and hourly pay
A dental hygienist in the US earns a median of $98,100 a year, about $47.16 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $74,880 and the top 10% earn over $126,050. Pay depends heavily on the state: the top-paying state, District of Columbia, has a median of $137,220.
Dental Hygienist pay calculator
Gross pay before taxes. If you enter your own hourly rate, it replaces the BLS figure. Otherwise hourly rate = BLS annual figure ÷ 2,080 hours (40 hours × 52 weeks), the same convention BLS uses.
How much does a dental hygienist make an hour?
The median dental hygienist earns $47.16 an hour. Hourly pay ranges from about $36.00 for the lowest-paid 10% to $60.60 for the highest-paid 10%.
| Pay level | Per year | Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (bottom 10%) | $74,880 | $36.00 |
| Lower 25% | $83,570 | $40.18 |
| Median (typical) | $98,100 | $47.16 |
| Upper 25% | $108,480 | $52.16 |
| Top 10% | $126,050 | $60.60 |
Dental Hygienist salary by state
Median annual pay for dental hygienists in every state, from BLS May 2025 data.
| State | Median per year | ≈ Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $61,160 | $29.40 |
| Alaska | $132,690 | $63.79 |
| Arizona | $101,010 | $48.56 |
| Arkansas | $86,760 | $41.71 |
| California | $124,930 | $60.06 |
| Colorado | $109,580 | $52.68 |
| Connecticut | $100,690 | $48.41 |
| Delaware | $98,910 | $47.55 |
| District of Columbia | $137,220 | $65.97 |
| Florida | $91,980 | $44.22 |
| Georgia | $95,490 | $45.91 |
| Hawaii | $97,570 | $46.91 |
| Idaho | $94,650 | $45.50 |
| Illinois | $96,670 | $46.48 |
| Indiana | $92,330 | $44.39 |
| Iowa | $84,010 | $40.39 |
| Kansas | Not published | – |
| Kentucky | $78,830 | $37.90 |
| Louisiana | $85,240 | $40.98 |
| Maine | $97,680 | $46.96 |
| Maryland | $107,830 | $51.84 |
| Massachusetts | $100,640 | $48.38 |
| Michigan | $83,790 | $40.28 |
| Minnesota | $103,970 | $49.99 |
| Mississippi | $67,280 | $32.35 |
| Missouri | $92,750 | $44.59 |
| Montana | $98,440 | $47.33 |
| Nebraska | $92,580 | $44.51 |
| Nevada | $115,290 | $55.43 |
| New Hampshire | $101,250 | $48.68 |
| New Jersey | $107,040 | $51.46 |
| New Mexico | $95,940 | $46.12 |
| New York | $106,130 | $51.02 |
| North Carolina | $97,850 | $47.04 |
| North Dakota | $90,530 | $43.52 |
| Ohio | $88,990 | $42.78 |
| Oklahoma | $97,580 | $46.91 |
| Oregon | $122,080 | $58.69 |
| Pennsylvania | $80,610 | $38.75 |
| Rhode Island | $86,910 | $41.78 |
| South Carolina | $84,340 | $40.55 |
| South Dakota | $92,210 | $44.33 |
| Tennessee | $84,640 | $40.69 |
| Texas | $99,240 | $47.71 |
| Utah | $91,120 | $43.81 |
| Vermont | $97,470 | $46.86 |
| Virginia | $102,950 | $49.50 |
| Washington | $131,160 | $63.06 |
| West Virginia | $73,840 | $35.50 |
| Wisconsin | $96,540 | $46.41 |
| Wyoming | $85,130 | $40.93 |
Highest-paying states for dental hygienists
- District of Columbia: $137,220 median
- Alaska: $132,690 median
- Washington: $131,160 median
- California: $124,930 median
- Oregon: $122,080 median
The lowest medians are in Alabama ($61,160), Mississippi ($67,280), West Virginia ($73,840), Kentucky ($78,830), Pennsylvania ($80,610). The most dental hygienist jobs are in California (24,500 jobs), Texas (16,380 jobs), New York (13,660 jobs), Florida (11,980 jobs), Illinois (8,970 jobs).
How much does a dental hygienist make a month?
At the median salary of $98,100, a dental hygienist earns about $8,175 a month, $3,773 every two weeks or $1,887 a week, before taxes.
Entry-level vs. experienced dental hygienist pay
New dental hygienists typically start near the bottom of the range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $74,880 a year and the lowest 25% under $83,570. The top 25% earn over $108,480 and the top 10% over $126,050. BLS does not break pay down by years of experience; these percentiles are the closest official measure.
Dental Hygienist salary vs. similar jobs
| Job | Median per year |
|---|---|
| Dental hygienist | $98,100 |
| Dental assistant | $48,070 |
| Dentist | $170,950 |
Common questions
How much does a dental hygienist make?
The US median is $98,100 a year ($47.16 an hour), based on BLS May 2025 data.
How much does a dental hygienist make an hour?
The median is about $47.16 an hour. The bottom 10% earn about $36.00 and the top 10% about $60.60 an hour.
Which state pays dental hygienists the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median at $137,220, followed by Alaska ($132,690) and Washington ($131,160).
How much does a dental hygienist make a month?
At the US median of $98,100 a year, about $8,175 a month or $3,773 every two weeks, before taxes.
How much does an entry-level dental hygienist make?
The lowest-paid 10% earn under $74,880 a year and the lowest 25% under $83,570, the closest official measure of starting pay.
How much do the top 10% of dental hygienists make?
The top 10% earn over $126,050 a year; the top 25% earn over $108,480.
How much does a dental hygienist make in California, Texas, Florida and New York?
Median annual pay is $124,930 in California, $99,240 in Texas, $91,980 in Florida, $106,130 in New York, per BLS May 2025 data.
Last reviewed October 31, 2026. All figures are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 survey (occupation code 29-1292, “Dental Hygienists”), the most recent official release; “median” means half earn more and half earn less. Figures are gross pay before taxes and benefits. See the BLS OEWS tables and the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. This page is general information, not career or financial advice.