There were approximately 211,600 dental hygienists at work in the U.S. as of May 2023 according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports. Most dental hygienists work in dental offices, but small numbers may be found working with employment agencies, physician offices, and outpatient care centers. Like many other trained healthcare professionals with advanced technical skills, dental hygienists earn salaries and wages in excess of that earned by workers in most other occupations. Per BLS estimates, as of May 2023, the national mean wage for dental hygienists was $89,890 annually. Pay for the profession varies widely from state to state, with dental hygienists in some states making more than twice what their counterparts made elsewhere. As of May 2023, according to BLS data, these were the best and worst states for dental hygienist pay based on annual mean wage levels:
| Best Paying States | |
| Washington | $123,510 |
| California | $118,330 |
| Alaska | $115,980 |
| District of Columbia | $113,600 |
| Oregon | $103,440 |
| Colorado | $101,790 |
| Maryland | $101,140 |
| Delaware | $98,660 |
| Massachusetts | $96,410 |
| New Jersey | $95,700 |
| Worst Paying States | |
| Utah | $78,910 |
| Arkansas | $78,040 |
| Pennsylvania | $77,010 |
| South Carolina | $76,950 |
| Michigan | $76,800 |
| Tennessee | $75,920 |
| Kentucky | $73,850 |
| West Virginia | $68,820 |
| Mississippi | $62,120 |
| Alabama | $54,460 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on April 15, 2024
