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Dental Hygiene Technician Schools, Salaries, and Job Data

Dental Hygiene Technicians Job Overview

Dental hygiene technicians remove soft and hard deposits from teeth, teach patients how to practice good oral hygiene and provide other preventive dental care. In short, they clean teeth and teach clients how to prevent tooth decay and gum diseases. They are a very important part of dental care and their major task is preventative care. They discuss general health issues with patients and update dental charts. Dental hygiene technicians use dental instruments to clean plaque and various stains from teeth in preparation for the dentist, which may include applying numbing agents to a patient's gums. Some hygienists are licensed to administer local anesthesia as well. Dental hygiene technicians also perform work on certain procedures so that dentists can move on to the next patient.

Dental Hygiene Technicians Schools and Degrees

The basic requirement to enter into a dental hygiene program is a high school diploma and college entrance test. Most of the programs available at technical schools, colleges and dental schools take two years to complete and earn an associate degree. There are also four-year programs which grant bachelor’s or master’s degrees. These programs teach anatomy, radiology, nutrition and also the operation of dental tools and equipment. During training, hands-on experience working with patients in a clinic is given. The Commission on Dental Accreditation accredited 286 dental hygiene programs in 2006. A bachelor’s or master’s degree usually is required for research, teaching or clinical practice in public or school health programs.

Job Requirements

Dental hygiene technicians should be able to work well with others as they have to work closely with dentists, dental assistants and even deal directly with patients occasionally. They also need good manual dexterity while using dental instruments within a patient’s mouth. They need to feel and visually examine gums for signs of disease, update charts to track patients' oral health, take and develop x-rays, remove stitches, gauze and rubber dams following dental procedures and also take part in community dental health programs.

Nature of Work

Dental hygiene technicians work in clean, well-lit offices. They need to strictly adhere to proper radiological procedures and use appropriate protective devices when administering anesthetic gas. They need to wear safety glasses, surgical masks and gloves to protect themselves and patients from infectious diseases. Work schedules are flexible and are available in full-time, part-time, evening and weekend shifts. Dentists frequently hire hygiene technicians to work only 2 or 3 days a week so hygienists can attend more than one dental office. Most of them work part time.

Dental Hygiene Technicians Jobs and Outlook

According to research in 2006, dental hygiene technicians held about 167,000 jobs in the US. This number is expected to grow by 30% in the next ten years. Employment is the highest in the following industries:

  • Employment Services
  • General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
  • Offices of Dentists
  • Offices of Physicians
  • Outpatient Care Centers

The mean hourly wage for dental hygiene technicians in the US is about $31.21, while the mean annual wages are around $64,910.

Job Numbers and Growth

How many dental hygiene technicians are there? About 167,000 in all. Workers can most likely expect a very low rate of unemployment. Note that 1% of employees were without work in 2008.

Area Job Conditions

Santa Cruz (California), Leominster (Massachusetts), and Corvallis (Oregon) boast the most employees for their size population. Farmington (New Mexico), McAllen (Texas), and Lafayette (Louisiana) have the fewest.

The highest salaries for dental hygiene technicians are in and around Santa Rosa (California), San Francisco (California), and Oakland (California). The lowest-paying areas are Gadsden (Alabama), Decatur (Alabama), and Florence (Alabama).

Training and Education

Expect to get an associate degree for this occupation. The share of employees with a bachelor's degree or higher is 33%. About 64% of dental hygiene technicians got additional education after high school, but did not have to get a college degree. There was no need to go beyond high school for 3% of workers. Recommended schools are shown in the column to the right; request information from them to help you decide which if any could help you with this career.

Part-Time Work and Self-Employment

It is estimated that 59% of dental hygiene technicians work less than full time.


Career Video for Dental Hygiene Technicians

Dental Hygiene Technicians by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)

In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.

Alabama

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Anniston$39,000100+83%
Auburn$45,00070+35%
Birmingham$44,000730+6%
Decatur$37,000110+74%
Dothan$42,000140+99%
Florence$31,000130+120%
Gadsden$38,00060+59%
Huntsville$47,000320+20%
Mobile$47,000270+15%
Montgomery$43,000220+1%
Tuscaloosa$43,000140+28%

Alaska

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Anchorage$94,000280+37%

Arizona

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Flagstaff$70,000100+55%
Kingman$74,00060+1%
Phoenix$68,0002,010-19%
Prescott$74,000100+36%
Tucson$74,000630+30%

Arkansas

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Fayetteville$64,000240-5%
Hot Springs$63,00040-4%
Jonesboro$58,00090+58%
Little Rock$58,000430-3%

California

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Fresno$66,000380-13%
Hanford$72,00050+58%
Madera$77,00040-2%
Merced$94,000100+49%
Modesto$66,000220+5%
Napa$97,00080+5%
Oakland$98,0002,180+59%
Oxnard$85,000580+49%
Redding$80,00070-12%
Riverside$83,0001,380-19%
Sacramento$86,0001,450+23%
Salinas$97,000120-39%
San Diego$84,0001,440-19%
San Francisco$95,0001,280-4%
San Jose$88,000770-37%
San Luis Obispo$83,000260+112%
Santa Ana$79,0002,150+5%
Santa Barbara$80,000250+17%
Santa Cruz$81,000320+199%
Santa Rosa$115,000360+53%
Stockton$73,000300+9%
Vallejo$91,000250+64%
Visalia$77,000110-35%
Yuba City$92,000110+151%

Colorado

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Boulder$83,000270+32%
Colorado Springs$64,000350+7%
Denver$77,0001,560-7%
Fort Collins$72,000300+99%
Grand Junction$66,000120+81%
Pueblo$68,00050-20%

Connecticut

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Bridgeport$75,000780+35%
Danbury$71,000230+170%
Hartford$70,000880+15%
New Haven$70,000460+26%
Norwich$70,000290+87%
Waterbury$72,000110+35%

Delaware

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Dover$62,00050-22%
Wilmington$69,000460+7%

District of Columbia

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Washington$79,0001,990-36%

Florida

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Cape Coral$72,000270+0%
Deltona$53,000230+17%
Fort Lauderdale$61,0001,020+5%
Jacksonville$57,000780-2%
Lakeland$62,000140-44%
Miami$55,0001,020-23%
Naples$68,000130-13%
Ocala$53,000190+64%
Orlando$60,000910-35%
Palm Bay$70,000350+39%
Panama City$57,00070-15%
Pensacola$50,000150-21%
Port St Lucie$57,000280+77%
Punta Gorda$64,00080+79%
Sarasota$64,000360+6%
Sebastian$60,000120+116%
Tallahassee$56,000160-23%
Tampa$58,0001,130-30%
West Palm Beach$59,000850+20%

Georgia

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Albany$43,000110+53%
Athens$60,000140+55%
Atlanta$70,0003,460+9%
Augusta$55,000390+48%
Brunswick$64,00040-17%
Columbus$56,000130-4%
Dalton$57,00060-36%
Gainesville$61,00080-5%
Macon$51,000190+55%
Rome$59,00040-2%
Savannah$61,000170-10%
Warner Robins$41,000110+91%

Hawaii

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Honolulu$63,000630+9%

Idaho

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Boise$69,000480+37%
Coeur Dalene$68,00080+25%
Idaho Falls$62,000130+138%
Lewiston$77,00040+64%
Pocatello$61,00090+172%

Illinois

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Bloomington$47,000210+149%
Champaign$58,000130+13%
Chicago$66,0004,320-16%
Danville$55,00040+44%
Decatur$59,00060+11%
Kankakee$69,00040-5%
Peoria$43,000300+38%
Rockford$67,000230+20%
Springfield$56,000200+57%

Indiana

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Anderson$72,00050+11%
Bloomington$67,00090+10%
Columbus$49,00060+24%
Elkhart$63,000160-1%
Evansville$58,000240+8%
Fort Wayne$53,000410+50%
Gary$64,000350-4%
Indianapolis$71,0001,230+3%
Kokomo$61,000100+152%
Lafayette$73,00080-12%
Muncie$72,00070+34%
South Bend$60,000240+40%

Iowa

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Ames$66,00060+41%
Cedar Rapids$63,000150-11%
Davenport$63,000220-6%
Des Moines$66,000410-4%
Dubuque$55,000110+85%
Iowa City$50,00060-30%
Sioux City$61,000100+17%
Waterloo$60,00080-23%

Kansas

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Lawrence$62,00060+16%
Topeka$71,000140+2%
Wichita$59,000430+8%

Kentucky

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Bowling Green$47,00060-11%
Elizabethtown$52,00050+1%
Lexington$55,000310-1%
Louisville$59,000780-5%
Owensboro$53,00090+62%

Louisiana

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Alexandria$53,00040-43%
Baton Rouge$55,000460-5%
Houma$46,00070-40%
Lafayette$46,00040-78%
Lake Charles$55,000140+33%
Monroe$50,00060-37%
New Orleans$55,000560-17%
Shreveport170-24%

Maine

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Bangor$51,000120+58%
Lewiston$74,00080+41%
Portland$62,000410+57%

Maryland

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Baltimore$73,0001,350-23%
Bethesda$69,000540-29%
Cumberland$56,00060+51%
Hagerstown$65,000130+7%
Salisbury$75,000110+80%

Massachusetts

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Barnstable Town$74,000310+151%
Boston$79,0002,080-10%
Brockton$73,000120+10%
Framingham$77,000300+45%
Haverhill$79,000180+93%
Lawrence$70,000140+109%
Leominster$74,000170+194%
Lowell$79,000270+78%
New Bedford$68,000190+147%
Pittsfield$67,00080+119%
Springfield$68,000640+64%
Taunton$73,00060+13%
Worcester$68,000600+86%

Michigan

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Ann Arbor$63,000360+71%
Battle Creek$55,00080+42%
Bay City$59,000100+158%
Detroit$62,0001,260+34%
Flint$55,000430+150%
Grand Rapids$57,000800+60%
Holland$61,000250+100%
Jackson$52,000130+115%
Kalamazoo$60,000320+87%
Lansing$60,000530+114%
Monroe$58,000100+124%
Muskegon$53,000120+69%
Niles$66,00090+23%
Saginaw$54,000200+118%
Warren$64,0002,790+81%

Minnesota

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Duluth$58,000180+13%
Minneapolis$70,0002,840+19%
Rochester$65,000140+23%
St Cloud$69,000170+35%

Mississippi

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Gulfport$56,000110-18%
Hattiesburg$52,000110+65%
Jackson$48,000340+3%
Pascagoula$52,00070+30%

Missouri

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Columbia$62,00080-19%
Joplin$57,000110+13%
Kansas City$71,0001,250-9%
Springfield$57,0002500%
St Joseph$57,00040-31%
St Louis$61,0001,370-24%

Montana

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Billings$65,000160+64%
Great Falls$65,00030-22%
Missoula$63,000110+83%

Nebraska

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Lincoln$66,000210+1%
Omaha$68,000340-44%

Nevada

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Las Vegas$72,000890-28%
Reno$77,000280+5%

New Hampshire

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Manchester$73,000270+109%
Nashua$75,000270+55%
Portsmouth$67,000100+51%
Rochester$78,000110+65%

New Jersey

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Atlantic City$71,000150-20%
Camden$74,000570-19%
Edison$70,0001,470+7%
Newark$79,0001,040-23%
Ocean City$74,00090+92%
Trenton$69,000210-24%
Vineland$62,00060-11%

New Mexico

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Albuquerque$75,000450-12%
Farmington$61,00030-51%
Santa Fe$81,00070-7%

New York

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Albany$60,000660+14%
Binghamton$50,000210+60%
Buffalo$52,000810+14%
Elmira$51,00060+53%
Glens Falls$64,00080+31%
Ithaca$57,00040-17%
Kingston$67,000120+72%
Nassau$69,0001,930+15%
New York$75,0005,020-27%
Poughkeepsie$68,000380+23%
Rochester$57,000950+43%
Syracuse$56,000500+23%
Utica$60,000190+19%

North Carolina

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Asheville$55,000280+23%
Charlotte$66,0001,000-15%
Durham$64,000360+1%
Fayetteville$55,000180+18%
Goldsboro$63,00060+42%
Greensboro$56,000490+0%
Greenville$65,00080-6%
Jacksonville$60,000100+118%
Raleigh$64,000770+14%
Rocky Mount$56,000110+60%
Wilmington$66,000230+26%
Winston Salem$67,000340+22%

North Dakota

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Bismarck$57,000100+52%
Fargo$58,000250+73%
Grand Forks$50,00060+8%

Ohio

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Akron$62,000390-12%
Canton$59,000160-28%
Cincinnati$65,0001,410+2%
Cleveland$61,0001,420+0%
Columbus$69,0001,180-5%
Dayton$59,000450-12%
Lima$54,00090+48%
Mansfield$64,00080+33%
Sandusky$60,00050+28%
Springfield$63,00050-8%
Toledo$56,000560+37%
Youngstown$53,000350+16%

Oklahoma

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Lawton$57,00040-3%
Oklahoma City$57,000660-12%
Tulsa$65,000450-22%

Oregon

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Corvallis$75,000100+194%
Eugene$74,000320+70%
Medford$74,000160+56%
Portland$78,0002,120+53%
Salem$75,000240+26%

Pennsylvania

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Allentown$55,000510+15%
Altoona$51,00060-14%
Harrisburg$57,000270-35%
Johnstown$52,00070+6%
Lancaster$55,000370+21%
Lebanon$55,00050-6%
Philadelphia$63,0002,540+1%
Pittsburgh$52,0001,680+11%
Reading$61,000200-5%
Scranton$48,000270-19%
State College$50,00070+7%
Williamsport$53,00070+19%
York$53,000210-9%

Rhode Island

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Providence$68,000890+19%

South Carolina

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Anderson$55,000160+126%
Charleston$54,000420+10%
Columbia$55,000470+2%
Florence$51,000110+8%
Greenville$50,000360-10%
Myrtle Beach$50,000220+49%
Spartanburg$52,000170+11%
Sumter$49,00060+55%

South Dakota

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Sioux Falls$63,000200+15%

Tennessee

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Chattanooga$57,000330+10%
Clarksville$60,000110+22%
Cleveland$52,00060+52%
Johnson City$61,000130+45%
Kingsport$55,000200+41%
Knoxville$58,000460+5%
Memphis$54,000670-19%
Nashville$53,000720-29%

Texas

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Abilene$67,00060-18%
Amarillo$51,00070-43%
Austin$73,000760-25%
Beaumont$61,000230+15%
Brownsville$60,000100-35%
College Station$67,00080-14%
Corpus Christi$55,000180-20%
Dallas$70,0002,200-22%
El Paso$51,000170-50%
Fort Worth$73,000810-30%
Houston$68,0002,370-31%
Killeen$73,000110-26%
Longview130+14%
Mcallen$56,000110-61%
Midland$70,00060-23%
Odessa$57,00070+6%
San Antonio$64,000920-18%
Texarkana$51,00080+27%
Tyler$56,000120+9%
Victoria$55,00070+31%
Waco$63,00080-32%
Wichita Falls$58,00070+4%

Utah

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Provo$66,000390+85%
Salt Lake City$65,000710-15%

Vermont

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Burlington$58,000260+91%

Virginia

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Blacksburg$61,00090+25%
Danville$62,00050+30%
Harrisonburg$66,00070+11%
Lynchburg$63,000100-19%
Richmond$67,000690-13%
Roanoke$62,000230+15%
Virginia Beach$69,000650-35%
Winchester$58,00070+15%

Washington

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Bellingham$88,000170+77%
Bremerton$93,000230+129%
Kennewick$91,000140+28%
Longview$75,00040+11%
Mount Vernon$86,00080+57%
Olympia$89,000190+66%
Seattle$94,0002,400+25%
Spokane$73,000340+26%
Tacoma$85,000490+40%
Wenatchee$91,00090+100%
Yakima$84,000170+76%

West Virginia

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Charleston$50,000140-23%
Huntington$50,000120-15%
Morgantown$52,00060+13%
Parkersburg$49,00090+9%
Weirton$48,00060+26%
Wheeling$45,000110+47%

Wisconsin

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Appleton$62,000230+62%
Eau Claire$59,000130+41%
Fond$57,000110+121%
Green Bay$59,000300+41%
La Crosse$59,000170+108%
Madison$63,000590+35%
Milwaukee$60,0001,480+31%
Oshkosh$56,000120+18%
Racine$61,000130+40%
Sheboygan$62,00060-10%
Wausau$57,000110+38%

Wyoming

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Casper$56,00070+64%

Salary and employment data obtained from the United States Department of Labor. Individual salaries depend on location, education and career background. Thanks to CityTownInfo.com for this dental hygiene technician schools and jobs info.

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