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Dental Hygienist Salary
Dental Hygienist Salary
Overall, dental hygienist pay can be quite lucrative. Typically hygienists are paid by the hour, rather than salaried. There are some dental practices that pay hygienists on a commission plan where they also earn a percentage of the profits from what they sell or how much work they produce in a day; for instance, the number of cleanings they perform or patients they see.While the hourly pay for dental hygienists can vary depending on which state they reside, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay is $30 an hour which equals more than $60,000 per year for full time. Larger cities, like Chicago and Los Angeles, can make anywhere between $30-40 per hour. Some dental offices also have a bonus system which means that if the office produces a certain amount of revenue in a given month, the hygienists can earn a bonus. The amount of the bonus can range but some offices give their hygienist a $100 a month bonus if certain revenue criteria are met or surpassed.
Learn more about how to become a dental hygienist.
While the pay is certainly rewarding in the dental hygienist profession, another draw to this line of work is the low amount of student
loans to be paid off afterward. A hygienist education can be earned for somewhere between $10-15,000 since only a two year degree is needed to practice. This means hygienists are able to see the money back in their pocket quicker than professions where a significant period of time is spent paying off steep student loans. Insurance and vacation time benefits
As with most professions, there is not one universal set of benefits for dental hygienists. These range depending on the specific office they work in. If hired into a group practice where there are several doctors employed, and more employees working for the practice, typically more benefits are offered than in a single dentist’s office. These benefits can include 401K, paid vacation time, paid holidays, health insurance plans, and reimbursement for continuing education. And, of course, one of the best benefits of working for a dentist is that typically dental work is included for the employee and their family. Some of the benefits, such as health insurance, are available for full time employees only; which is typically considered 32 hours a week. Also, hygienists are always given holidays and weekends off.Learn more about dental hygienist jobs.
What kind of hours do dental hygienists typically work?
Another benefit of having a job as a hygienist is the hours. Typically dentist’s offices are open “banker’s hours” from 7 or 8am until 4 or 5pm. It is also fairly common for offices to close early one day a week. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, over half of hygienists work part time. So this can be a great profession for people who are interested in splitting time between raising kids and working since part time is common. However, there are plenty of full time hygienist positions as well. It is also great being in a profession that guarantees every weekend and holiday off. Oftentimes, depending on the practice in which a hygienist works, they are able to choose their own schedule, which is a huge benefit.Is it difficult to find a job in this field?
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, dental hygiene is one of the fastest growing occupations. Through 2016, available jobs in this field are expected to grow 30 percent, which is a much faster rate than the average occupation. So this is an excellent field to pursue with a good deal of job openings available.Learn more about dental hygienist certification programs.
