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Dental hygienist salary in United States

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

Average base salary

$51.89
Average $51.89
Low $39.43
High $68.29

The average salary for a dental hygienist is $51.89 per hour in the United States. 70.2k salaries taken from job postings on Indeed in the past 36 months (updated July 27, 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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Dental Hygienist
Bloomfield Family Dentistry
Northampton, MA
$45 - $50 an hour
Part-time
41 minutes 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
 
$203,258per year
Houston Airport System
 
$173,329per year
Chrisad
 
$167,963per year
Wollborg Michelson Recruiting
 
$161,200per year
Pacific Northwest National Lab...
 
$158,800per year

Highest paying cities for Dental Hygienists near United States

  1. Washington, DC
    $63.36 per hour
  2. San Diego, CA
    $61.52 per hour
  3. Aurora, CO
    $60.54 per hour
  4. Boston, MA
    $56.09 per hour
  5. Austin, TX
    $55.33 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