Dental hygienists

Detailed Occupation

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2020 Workforce

187k

Average Age

42.5

Average Salary

$55,575

Average Male Salary

$107,296

Average Female Salary

$52,675

About

Dental hygienists are most often employed by the Offices of dentists industry. The average yearly wage for Dental hygienists was $55,575 in 2016. The top 3 most similar occupations to Dental hygienists by wage are Media and communication workers, all other, Credit authorizers, checkers, & clerks, and Broadcast & sound engineering technicians & radio operators, & media & communication equipment workers, all other.

Dental hygienists are part of the Healthcare practitioners & technical occupations, along with Chiropractors, Dentists, Dietitians & nutritionists, Optometrists, Pharmacists, and 37 more.

The top 3 locations that employ the most Dental hygienists are North Charleston City PUMA, SC, Prichard City, Tillmans Corner & Saraland City PUMA, AL, and Marathon County PUMA, WI. The top 3 locations with a relatively high concentration of Dental hygienists are Prichard City, Tillmans Corner & Saraland City PUMA, AL, Shelby City PUMA, NC, and Marathon County PUMA, WI.

Information on the businesses and industries that employ Dental hygienists and on wages and locations for those in the field. Offices of dentists is the industry that employs the most Dental hygienists, both by share and by number, though the highest paid industry for Dental hygienists, by average wage, is Outpatient care centers. Dental hygienists are paid most in Ridgewood Village, Glen Rock & Westwood Boroughs PUMA, NJ but are relatively concentrated in Prichard City, Tillmans Corner & Saraland City PUMA, AL.

Yearly Wage

$55,575

AVERAGE SALARY

± $2,532

In 2020, Dental hygienists earned an average of $55,575, $379 less than than the average national salary of $55,954.

Broadcast & sound engineering technicians & radio operators, & media & communication equipment workers, all other make somewhat more than Dental hygienists while Media and communication workers, all other make somewhat less. This chart shows the various occupations closest to Dental hygienists as measured by average annual salary in the US.

Wage Distribution

0.306

WAGE GINI

In 2019, Dental hygienists had a wage GINI coefficient of 0.306, which is lower than than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly for Dental hygienists (shown in red) than for the overall labor force (shown in gray).

Wage by Location

HIGHEST PAYING PUMAS

This map shows the Public Use Microdata Areas (PUMAs) in the United States shaded by average annual wage for Dental hygienists.

Spatial Concentration

PUMAs with a Relatively High Concentration of Dental hygienists

This map displays which Public Use Microdata Areas (PUMAs) in the United States have a relatively high population of Dental hygienists.

Most Common

The most common industries employing Dental hygienists, by number of employees, are Offices of dentists, General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals, Outpatient care centers, Other health care services, Offices of physicians, Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges, Justice, public order, & safety activities , Employment services, Administration of human resource programs, National security & international affairs, and U. S. Air Force.

Highest Paying

The highest paying industries for Dental hygienists, by average wage, are Outpatient care centers, Other health care services, and Management, scientific & technical consulting services.

Industries by Share

187k

2020 Workforce

± 10,605

0.975%

1 YEAR GROWTH

± 7.97%

The number of people employed as Dental hygienists has been growing at a rate of 0.975%, from 185,003 people in 2019 to 186,807 people in 2020.

This graphic shows the share of Dental hygienists employed by various industries. Offices of dentists employs the largest share of Dental hygienists at 95.1%, followed by General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals with 1.04% and Outpatient care centers with 0.556%.

Diversity

Demographic information on Dental hygienists in the US. The average age of male Dental hygienists in the workforce is 42.3 and of female Dental hygienists is 42.5, and the most common race/ethnicity for Dental hygienists is White (Non-Hispanic).

Composition by Sex

9.92k

MALE WORKFORCE

± 2,445

177k

FEMALE WORKFORCE

± 10,320

94.7% of Dental hygienists are Female, making them the more common sex in the occupation. This chart shows the sex breakdown of Dental hygienists.

Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity of Dental hygienists

White (Non-Hispanic)
White (Hispanic)
Asian (Non-Hispanic)

79.6% of Dental hygienists are White (Non-Hispanic), making that the most common race or ethnicity in the occupation. Representing 5.81% of Dental hygienists, White (Hispanic) is the second most common race or ethnicity in this occupation. This chart shows the racial and ethnic breakdown of Dental hygienists.

Age by Sex

42.3

AVERAGE MALE AGE

± 3.46

42.5

AVERAGE FEMALE AGE

± 0.733

The median age of Dental hygienists is 42.5, and Male employees are generally 0.181 years younger than than their Female counterparts.

Education

Data on higher education choices for Dental hygienists from The Department of Education and Census Bureau. The most common major for Dental hygienists is Health but a relatively high number of Dental hygienists hold a major in Health.