Occupation salary profile

Dental Hygienists

SOC 29-1292 BLS OEWS May 2025

Administer oral hygiene care to patients. Assess patient oral hygiene problems or needs and maintain health records. Advise patients on oral health maintenance and disease prevention. May provide advanced care such as providing fluoride treatment or administering topical anesthesia.

National median · BLS
$98,100
▲ +4.07% YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$98,990
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
222,740
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Dental Hygienists

Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.

Percentile All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay$74,880
25th$83,570
Median (50th)$98,100
75th$108,480
90th — top pay$126,050

Hourly ⇄ annual pay

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Based on hrs/week × weeks/year = 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035

Job outlook for Dental Hygienists

BLS projects employment of dental hygienists to grow 8% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 15,000 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.

Jobs 2025 → 2035
225,300 → 243,200
+17,900 jobs
Projected change
+8%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
15,000
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
Associate's degree
No related experience required
Self-employed
1.3% of workers (2025)
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 3)
Medium Preparation Needed. Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Fastest-growing jobs → Best-paying jobs that need an associate's degree →

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035 · BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook →

Skills & tools

Skills needed for Dental Hygienists

How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.

Top skills
  • Active Listening3.8
  • Critical Thinking3.5
  • Speaking3.5
  • Monitoring3.1
  • Service Orientation3.1
  • Social Perceptiveness3.1
  • Writing3.1
  • Active Learning3.0
  • Coordination3.0
  • Instructing3.0
Top knowledge areas
  • Medicine and Dentistry4.6
  • Customer and Personal Service3.9
  • Psychology3.0
  • English Language2.8
  • Education and Training2.6
  • Computers and Electronics2.6
  • Public Safety and Security2.5
  • Chemistry2.4
Software and technology used
Henry Schein DentrixMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft WordDental billing softwareDental charting softwareDental clinical records softwareDental digital radiology softwareDental imaging softwareDental intra-oral imaging softwareDental office management softwareEmail softwareOpen DentalPatterson Dental Supply Patterson EagleSoftScheduling softwareVoice-activated perio charting softwareWeb browser software

Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).

Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.

About the job

What dental hygienists do

  • Record and review patient medical histories.
  • Feel and visually examine gums for sores and signs of disease.
  • Examine gums, using probes, to locate periodontal recessed gums and signs of gum disease.
  • Clean calcareous deposits, accretions, and stains from teeth and beneath margins of gums, using dental instruments.
  • Provide clinical services or health education to improve and maintain the oral health of patients or the general public.
  • Chart conditions of decay and disease for diagnosis and treatment by dentist.
  • Expose and develop x-ray film.
  • Attend continuing education courses to maintain or update skills.
Also called
Dental HygienistHygienistLicensed Dental HygienistRegistered Dental Hygienist (RDH)Pediatric Dental Hygienist
More job titles for this occupation (3)
Dental NurseDental Treatment CoordinatorOral Hygienist

Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.