Dental Hygienist Salary
Dental Hygienist Salary: Various Rates According To State
The demand for dental hygienists in terms of employment has gone up in the past years. This demand is projected to increase at a stable rate until the year 2018. In line with this demand is the relatively high dental hygienist salary and stability the job offers.
According to the Occupational Employment Statistics report under the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the annual median dental hygienist salary is $67,860. This, however, is not a fixed number or salary range. The difference can be from $44,900 to as much as $92,860 per year.
There are actually many factors that can affect a dental hygienist salary. Here are some variables affecting the average dental hygienist salary one can get annually.
Dental Hygienist Salary factors
1) Location of the job – As with most service related jobs, the location of the dental office can be a factor when it comes to the range of dental hygienist salary. By rule of thumb, the closer the job is within the city vicinity, the higher is the expected dental hygienist salary. This may be attributed to the high cost of living in the city setting. The state in which the dental office is located can be a huge factor. In the In the State of Alaska, the average salary is $49,000.
In the state of Washington, the highest dental hygienist salary can reach as much as $90,140. According to Indeed.com, the cities which pays the highest dental hygienist salary in the U.S. includes New York, New York ($74,000); Los Angeles, California ($62,000); Chicago, Illinois ($60,000); Houston, Texas ($58,000); Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ($54,000); Phoenix, Arizona ($53,000); San Diego, California ($56,000); Dallas, Texas ($58,000); San Antonio, Texas ($48,000); and Detroit, Michigan ($56,000). These are the average annual dental hygienist salary range but it can vary depending on the employer and employment setup.
2) Educational attainment and years of practice – Dental hygienists who are newly graduates and have very little experience may initially find it difficult to find a job placement and a high dental hygienist salary. Although the demand for this job is quite high, employers still strive to seek a dental hygienist with a good educational record, extensive training, with lots of clinical experience and excellent hand dexterity skills. In other words, there is quite a competition for landing a job with a high dental hygienist salary.
The starting dental hygienist salary for those working away from the city is basically around $21.59 per hour or $44,900 annually. This again, is not a fixed number and may depend highly on the employer. For those with sufficient experience and educational background, dental hygienist salary can start at around $44.64 per hour or $92,860 per year. Having such high salary is possible for those who have attained a bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree.
Dental Hygienist Salary – Dental Hygiene with Sara
Sara Lefever knew from a very young age that she wanted to be a dental hygienist. She’s obviously very grateful that she chose Pennsylvania College of Technology to help make that dream a reality!
One can become a dental hygienist in as little as 2 years with an associate degree. Others choose a full 4-year course leading to a bachelor’s degree for a potentially higher dental hygienist salary. Of course, after graduating from either one of these dental hygienist programs, one needs to pass both the written and clinical licensure examination.
Those who graduated from a 2-year associate degree usually end up working in a dental office as a dental assistant. A dental hygienist cannot fully operate a clinic unlike a licensed dentist. Dental hygienists are only limited to doing the basic dental procedures necessary for proper oral health care.
The advantage of working in a dental office setting is the flexible working hours and the opportunity to earn a higher dental hygienist salary. A dental hygienist can choose to work only half the day or the whole day. Some work only 3-4 times a week. Because of the flexible working hours, some work while pursuing continuous studies leading to a bachelor’s degree. Some work with multiple employers on different work days or hours to increase their dental hygienist salary.
Those who graduated with a 4-year bachelor’s degree have more flexible career options and a higher expected dental hygienist salary. Aside from working in dental offices, they have the option to work in academic settings, private institutions, or under the federal government. They can become teachers or instructors.
They can be employed in major corporations under their healthcare programs. They can work for the government in a public health setting. They can also be consultants or advocates. Another advantage is they can have a higher dental hygienist salary no matter which state they are in. Aside from a high dental hygienist salary, their employment can also have additional benefits such as sick leave, retirement plans, and paid vacation leaves.
The dental hygienist salary can be received in various payment schedules depending on the employer or the job setup. Some received their dental hygienist salary hourly, daily, weekly, monthly or perhaps on commission basis. Part time workers only need to report to work several days a week for a few hours. Those who are employed usually work daily and receive their dental hygienist salary monthly or on a certain schedule twice a month.
Being a dental hygienist is a highly reputable career. But just like any other job that requires pure skill, a dental hygienist can increase chances of getting a good paying job and higher dental hygienist salary by improving oneself. Dental hygienists should keep abreast of the latest dental treatments and equipment innovations.
They should continually do volunteer work, particularly in public health settings to gain more experience with various patients’ oral health conditions. It is also a great chance to improve manual hand dexterity skills which can help improve chances of landing a good job with a high dental hygienist salary.
The sudden demand for dental hygienists may be attributed to the federal government and private institution’s joint campaign for preventive medicine. Included in this is preventive oral health care. It is a way to help people avoid high medical bills and maintain proper overall health. The dental industry seems to have adopted this and are also campaigning the same. People are now becoming more aware of the benefits of proper oral health and its relation to the development of various chronic illnesses.
More people are seeking the services of dental hygienists, which explain the sudden increase in employment demand. Dental hygienists are enjoying higher dental hygienist salary thanks to this campaign.
