Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2012

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)
190,290 1.3 % $33.99 $70,700 0.6 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median) 		75% 90%
Hourly Wage $22.38 $27.95 $33.75 $40.66 $46.29
Annual Wage (2) $46,540 $58,130 $70,210 $84,570 $96,280

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 182,140 21.47 $34.13 $71,000
Offices of Physicians 1,990 0.08 $31.40 $65,310
Employment Services 1,540 0.05 $33.50 $69,680
Outpatient Care Centers 740 0.12 $32.83 $68,280
Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) 630 0.03 $26.27 $54,640

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 182,140 21.47 $34.13 $71,000
Outpatient Care Centers 740 0.12 $32.83 $68,280
Offices of Physicians 1,990 0.08 $31.40 $65,310
Offices of Other Health Practitioners 480 0.07 $30.43 $63,290
Employment Services 1,540 0.05 $33.50 $69,680

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Other Ambulatory Health Care Services 120 0.04 $35.69 $74,240
Facilities Support Services 30 0.03 $34.78 $72,350
Offices of Dentists 182,140 21.47 $34.13 $71,000
Employment Services 1,540 0.05 $33.50 $69,680
Outpatient Care Centers 740 0.12 $32.83 $68,280

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 21,200 1.48 1.01 $44.84 $93,280
Texas 11,830 1.12 0.77 $33.29 $69,240
Florida 10,250 1.41 0.97 $28.49 $59,250
New York 9,630 1.13 0.77 $32.86 $68,340
Michigan 8,960 2.29 1.57 $28.75 $59,810




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)
Connecticut 3,760 2.32 1.59 $40.54 $84,320
Michigan 8,960 2.29 1.57 $28.75 $59,810
Rhode Island 1,030 2.28 1.56 $33.74 $70,180
Oregon 3,570 2.22 1.52 $38.26 $79,570
Washington 5,850 2.12 1.45 $43.53 $90,540




Top paying States for this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 21,200 1.48 1.01 $44.84 $93,280
Nevada 1,150 1.02 0.70 $43.92 $91,350
Washington 5,850 2.12 1.45 $43.53 $90,540
District of Columbia (8) (8) (8) $42.46 $88,320
Connecticut 3,760 2.32 1.59 $40.54 $84,320





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-Joliet-Naperville, IL Metropolitan Division 5,060 1.39 0.95 $31.49 $65,500
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division 4,780 1.24 0.85 $47.48 $98,750
New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division 3,870 0.75 0.51 $38.86 $80,830
Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division 3,170 1.51 1.03 $37.18 $77,330
Warren-Troy-Farmington Hills, MI Metropolitan Division 3,120 2.91 1.99 $29.22 $60,780
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA 3,100 1.37 0.94 $34.97 $72,750
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 3,090 1.77 1.21 $34.07 $70,860
Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA Metropolitan Division 2,720 1.93 1.32 $44.91 $93,410
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division 2,570 1.10 0.75 $44.14 $91,800
Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA NECTA Division 2,470 1.44 0.99 $38.63 $80,340