Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2010

29-2021 Dental Hygienists

Clean teeth and examine oral areas, head, and neck for signs of oral disease. May educate patients on oral hygiene, take and develop x rays, or apply fluoride or sealants.

National estimates for this occupation
Industry profile for this occupation
Geographic profile for this occupation

National estimates for this occupation: Top

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3) 		Mean hourly
wage		 Mean annual
wage (2) 		Wage RSE (3)
177,520 1.3 % $33.02 $68,680 0.6 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median) 		75% 90%
Hourly Wage $21.64 $26.89 $32.81 $39.10 $45.11
Annual Wage (2) $45,000 $55,930 $68,250 $81,340 $93,820

Industry profile for this occupation: Top

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Offices of Dentists 170,540 20.70 $33.16 $68,980
Offices of Physicians 1,420 0.06 $30.38 $63,190
Employment Services 1,340 0.05 $31.58 $65,690
Outpatient Care Centers 640 0.11 $32.88 $68,390
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals 620 0.01 $27.38 $56,950

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Offices of Dentists 170,540 20.70 $33.16 $68,980
Outpatient Care Centers 640 0.11 $32.88 $68,390
Offices of Other Health Practitioners 410 0.06 $31.86 $66,270
Offices of Physicians 1,420 0.06 $30.38 $63,190
Employment Services 1,340 0.05 $31.58 $65,690

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Offices of Dentists 170,540 20.70 $33.16 $68,980
Outpatient Care Centers 640 0.11 $32.88 $68,390
Insurance Carriers 40 (7) $31.96 $66,480
Offices of Other Health Practitioners 410 0.06 $31.86 $66,270
Employment Services 1,340 0.05 $31.58 $65,690

Geographic profile for this occupation: Top

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.

States with the highest employment level in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 18,050 1.29 0.92 $43.37 $90,220
Texas 10,860 1.08 0.77 $32.47 $67,530
New York 9,710 1.16 0.83 $32.98 $68,600
Florida 9,320 1.31 0.94 $28.05 $58,340
Michigan 8,570 2.28 1.63 $28.46 $59,200




States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Michigan 8,570 2.28 1.63 $28.46 $59,200
Idaho 1,220 2.05 1.46 $31.86 $66,270
Utah 2,240 1.95 1.40 $31.56 $65,640
Maine 1,120 1.93 1.39 $32.53 $67,660
New Hampshire 1,160 1.92 1.38 $35.59 $74,020




Top paying States for this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Alaska 450 1.46 1.04 $43.62 $90,740
California 18,050 1.29 0.92 $43.37 $90,220
Washington 5,170 1.92 1.37 $42.22 $87,810
District of Columbia 470 0.74 0.53 $41.50 $86,320
Nevada 1,220 1.10 0.78 $40.35 $83,930

Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, IL Metropolitan Division 5,040 1.42 1.02 $29.58 $61,520
New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division 4,190 0.84 0.60 $38.73 $80,560
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division 3,300 0.87 0.62 $41.18 $85,660
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA 3,100 1.41 1.01 $34.86 $72,510
Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division 2,760 1.38 0.99 $35.17 $73,160
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 2,730 1.63 1.16 $35.43 $73,690
Warren-Troy-Farmington Hills, MI Metropolitan Division 2,700 2.65 1.90 $29.26 $60,860
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division 2,640 1.16 0.83 $43.70 $90,900
Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA NECTA Division 2,510 1.52 1.09 $37.01 $76,980
Philadelphia, PA Metropolitan Division 2,500 1.39 0.99 $29.47 $61,300




Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Barnstable Town, MA 400 4.29 3.07 $39.63 $82,430
Flint, MI 490 3.88 2.78 $25.86 $53,790
Bremerton-Silverdale, WA 290 3.69 2.65 $46.31 $96,320
Corvallis, OR 120 3.67 2.63 $37.18 $77,340
Danbury, CT 240 3.60 2.58 $39.82 $82,820
Holland-Grand Haven, MI 320 3.26 2.33 $28.81 $59,930
Punta Gorda, FL 120 3.15 2.25 $30.44 $63,320
Idaho Falls, ID 150 3.07 2.20 $31.20 $64,890
Saginaw-Saginaw Township North, MI 240 3.01 2.16 $26.62 $55,360
Ogden-Clearfield, UT 560 2.92 2.09 $32.11 $66,780