Dental Hygienists
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.
Also called: Dental Hygienist, Dental Nurse, Dental Treatment Coordinator, Hygienist, Licensed Dental Hygienist, Oral Hygienist
Median pay
$98,100
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$74,880 – $126,050
People employed
222,740
Holland code
SRI
Social · Realistic · Investigative
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you prefer working indoors?
- 2.Do you want the same hours every week?
- 3.Are you happy talking and working with people most of the day?
- 4.Do you want to stay at 40 hours a week or less?
- 5.Are you OK repeating the same tasks most of the day?
- 6.Do you prefer doing your own work rather than directing others?
- 7.Are you comfortable sitting at a desk most of the day?
The hard parts
- Exposure to disease or infection
- Tight deadlines are common
Dental Hygienists pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (49 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What dental hygienists do
- 01Record and review patient medical histories.
- 02Feel and visually examine gums for sores and signs of disease.
- 03Examine gums, using probes, to locate periodontal recessed gums and signs of gum disease.
- 04Clean calcareous deposits, accretions, and stains from teeth and beneath margins of gums, using dental instruments.
- 05Provide clinical services or health education to improve and maintain the oral health of patients or the general public.
- 06Chart conditions of decay and disease for diagnosis and treatment by dentist.
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Writing
- Active Learning
Knowledge
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Customer and Personal Service
- Psychology
- English Language
- Education and Training
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Integrity
- Cautiousness
- Cooperation
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs vocational training or an associate degree (O*NET Job Zone 3).
- Related work experience: none.
- On-the-job training: none or short demonstration.
- A professional certification is often expected.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from dental hygienists
- Nuclear Medicine Technologists74% · +3%
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographers74% · −2%
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists71% · −3%
- Surgical Assistants70% · −32%
- Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians69% · −24%
Majors that lead here
- Dental Hygiene/Hygienist
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.