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Dental hygienist salary in United States

How much does a Dental Hygienist make in the United States?

Average base salary

$52.11
Average $52.11
Low $39.50
High $68.74

The average salary for a dental hygienist is $52.11 per hour in the United States. 67.7k salaries taken from job postings on Indeed in the past 36 months (updated September 21, 2026).

What Does a Dental Hygienist Do?

A dental hygienist works in collaboration with dental office managers, dental assistants and dentists to support positive oral health. Serving both child and adult patients, a dental hygienist prioritizes the prevention and treatment of oral diseases. Often, they also perform duties to support general office operations and efficiency. Under the supervision of a board-certified dentist, their specific responsibilities include:
  • Educating patients about effective strategies for maintaining oral hygiene such as proper brushing and flossing
  • Cleaning teeth, including the removal of calculus (or tartar) and plaque
  • Performing advanced cleaning procedures as needed, including root planing and scaling
  • Supporting positive patient follow-up care through patient and family education
  • Taking impressions of a patient's teeth via a dental mold known for study and treatment planning
  • Completing paperwork and related office management documentation
  • Conducting patient screenings to establish overall oral health
  • Taking basic vital signs, oral health history and oral health assessments
  • Summarizing screening and cleaning results for the dentist to inform their examination
Depending on the state's specific licensure requirements, dental hygienists may also perform the following additional duties:
  • Applying topical or local anesthesia
  • Taking dental X-rays and developing the film
  • Placing or removing sutures
  • Applying nitrous oxide
Learn more about what a Dental Hygienist does

Dental Hygienist job openings in United States

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Registered Dental Hygienist
Everlasting Smile
Palm Beach Gardens, FL
$40 - $45 an hour
Part-time
2 hours ago

Highest paying companies for Dental Hygienist in United States

Average year pay is based on job postings on Indeed in the past 36 months.
Hilde Family Dentistry
 
$272,740per year
View company
Pierce College District
 
$227,323per year
View company
Chrisad
 
$175,909per year
View company
Wollborg Michelson Recruiting
 
$161,200per year
View company
Pacific Northwest National Lab...
 
$158,800per year
View company
BioGaia USA
 
$156,000per year
View company

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Highest paying cities for Dental Hygienists near United States

  1. Washington, DC
    $64.07 per hour
  2. Thousand Oaks, CA
    $58.96 per hour
  3. Boston, MA
    $56.79 per hour
  4. Hartford, CT
    $56.27 per hour
  5. Austin, TX
    $55.63 per hour

Where can a Dental Hygienist earn more?

Compare salaries for Dental Hygienists in different locations
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Dental Hygienist

The average salary for a Dental Hygienist is $52.11 per hour in the United States. This figure is based on 67.7k salaries taken from job postings on Indeed in the past 36 months, last updated on September 21, 2026.

Dental Hygienist jobs on Indeed - find your next one today.

Dental Hygienist salaries typically range between a low of $39.50 and a high of $68.74 per hour, depending on experience, location, and the hiring company.

Some of the highest-paying cities for Dental Hygienist include Washington, DC at $64.07 per hour, Thousand Oaks, CA at $58.96 per hour, and Boston, MA at $56.79 per hour.

Based on recent job postings on Indeed, some of the top-paying companies for Dental Hygienist include Hilde Family Dentistry ($272,740 per year) and Pierce College District ($227,323 per year).