What Dental Hygienists Earned in 2025
Dental hygienist wages climbed again in 2025, with national averages nearing $49 per hour and top markets pushing well above $65.
Compensation across the dental industry continued its upward trajectory in 2025, fueled by sustained patient demand, staffing shortages, and increased competition among practices. Both dentists and dental hygienists benefited from rising wages, but the factors influencing their pay differed significantly.
According to the 2025 DentalPost Salary Survey, the average hourly wage for a dental hygienist reached $48.85, up from $45.75 in 2023. The median hourly wage sits at $47 per hour, marking 3 consecutive years of wage growth. However, national averages only tell part of the story. Reported wages ranged from $17 to $90 per hour, reflecting substantial variation based on geography, experience level, and practice model.
Compensation trends reveal a notable earnings peak between 9 and 14 years of experience:
- Less than 4 years: $48.81/hour
- 6 to 9 years: $50.89/hour
- 9 to 14 years: $59.79/hour
- 25+ years: $49.79/hour
The spike in the 9- to 14-year range reflects what many employers value most: clinical efficiency, strong patient management, and minimal supervision. Interestingly, reported averages dip after 25 years, likely due to reduced schedules, partial retirement, or transitions into nonclinical roles.
Location remains one of the strongest predictors of compensation. California, Washington, Oregon, Hawaii, and Alaska led the nation with average hourly wages of $59.99, while Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee averaged $38.69.
In high-demand urban markets, top-end hourly rates climbed substantially higher:
- Washington, DC: $76
- Minneapolis–St. Paul: $72
- Baltimore: $70
- Boston, New York City, Milwaukee: $68
Higher wages in metropolitan areas are driven by cost-of-living pressures, competitive hiring markets, extended office hours, and increased patient volume.
Interestingly, part-time dental hygienists sometimes command higher hourly wages than full-time counterparts. The reason is structural: part-time roles often exclude employer-sponsored benefits, prompting practices to offer higher base rates to remain competitive.
In 2025:
- 57% of hygienists worked full-time (32–40 hours/week)
- 39% worked part-time
- Just over 4% exceeded 40 hours per week
The key trade-off is total compensation versus hourly rate. Benefits can significantly impact long-term financial outcomes.
In 2025, dental compensation is strong, but highly stratified. For dental hygienists, geography, experience, and schedule structure heavily influence hourly earnings. Click here to read more.
