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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
- Hour
- Day
- Week
- Month
- Year
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:Depending on the state's specific licensure requirements, dental hygienists may also perform the following additional duties:
- 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
- Applying topical or local anesthesia
- Taking dental X-rays and developing the film
- Placing or removing sutures
- Applying nitrous oxide
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
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
Where can a Dental Hygienist earn more?
Compare salaries for Dental Hygienists in different locationsFrequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Dental Hygienist