How much does a dental hygienist really makes?

[RuffDay]

I hear from a lot of friends that dental hygienists make around $90,000/year if they are working in a large practice. Is this true?

How much do they make in big cities?
How much do they make in rural areas?
How hard is it to find a job?

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[panmit]

Yeah, that's pretty much accurate. Largely depends on location though. City pays a little less, while the rural areas pay a little bit more.

 

[tooth knockn]

Expect between

$20 to $50

Average is like

25-30

Across the country

 

[darknightzzz]

I hear from a lot of friends that dental hygienists make around $90,000/year if they are working in a large practice. Is this true?

How much do they make in big cities?
How much do they make in rural areas?
How hard is it to find a job?

Expect between

$20 to $50

Average is like

25-30

Across the country

I find 90k price tag on hygienist salary to be ridiculously high while fresh grad made 130-140k$ (this is a bit above average). This is not fair considering 300k debt dental students take out vs. dental hygienist (idk how much they take out but must be less, also less time on schooling)

 

[panmit]

I find 90k price tag on hygienist salary to be ridiculously high while fresh grad made 130-140k$ (this is a bit above average). This is not fair considering 300k debt dental students take out vs. dental hygienist (idk how much they take out but must be less, also less time on schooling)

I know it sucks, but life is far from fair.
Is it fair that Jordan Speith won $1 mill after one masters tourney, while docs/dents//etc. earn six figures in the entire year?
Is it fair that investment bankers make more than our teachers/professors/etc.?

It's not about whats fair or not. It's if you love what you are doing. I love dentistry, and am satisfied with what the career entails (i.e. in terms of satisfaction, lifestyle, and verrry comfortable pay).

 

[panmit]

I know it sucks, but life is far from fair.
Is it fair that Jordan Speith won $1 mill after one masters tourney, while docs/dents//etc. earn six figures in the entire year?
Is it fair that investment bankers make more than our teachers/professors/etc.?

It's not about whats fair or not. It's if you love what you are doing. I love dentistry, and am satisfied with what the career entails (i.e. in terms of satisfaction, lifestyle, and verrry comfortable pay).

BTW..being a hygienist is hard work also.

 

[AlbinoPolarBear]

I find 90k price tag on hygienist salary to be ridiculously high while fresh grad made 130-140k$ (this is a bit above average). This is not fair considering 300k debt dental students take out vs. dental hygienist (idk how much they take out but must be less, also less time on schooling)

Supply and demand determines your salary, not necessarily how much education you have.

 

[tooth knockn]

In New York City $35-50
Per hour is common....


The problem with dental hygienists is that their roles in dentistry are not really for full time staffing....

A lot DHists are part timers !

 

[mordred]

Check out salary.com. You can choose the location, and it returns free statistics about pay and benefits for about any job. In the area code I searched, DH mean salary was roughly $68.5k, and 90th percentile was $85k. The free stats do not have a screen for years of experience, so I assume these numbers are based on the entire population in the area I searched. I am sure it's higher in major metros. Top end is nowhere close to the top end for a DDS/DMD.

 

[irishmom]

I live in Ohio and when I was working ~34 hours per week I earned 65 K per year. Right now hygiene as a profession is on a down ward trend. There is an over saturation of hygienists and it is rare to find a full time job. Many have to cobble together 2 to three different offices to make full time. This means there isn't many benefits, unless you work in corporate...which I have done...and it SUCKS. Also, hygienists do not have autonomy...they pretty much have to work under a dentist (except in a few states). And believe me...not all dentists are a treat to work for.