The field of dental hygiene is growing rapidly, and can offer you a very rewarding, successful life. But to fully understand the pros of dental hygienist careers, you’ll need to look at what comprises the average salary.
The average dental hygienist salary varies from location to location. What goes into making this salary? How much can you expect to earn? Earnings for these dental professionals have risen considerably in recent years. In addition, the United States seems to be the best place for anyone interested in this field of work.
Average dental hygienist salary
Currently, the median income for a dental hygienist is about $64,000, according to CNN Money and governmental sources. However, while this is the median income, you’ll need to know the various factors that go into making that figure. Remember, a salary is made up of more than just the amount of money that appears on your weekly paycheck.
What other factors are included in this median salary figure? You will have to consider important factors like vacation time, sick time, paid days off and other obvious factors that go into determining this figure.
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While the median dental hygienist salary is quite high, you should not expect to earn this figure if you are just starting in the field. Most entry-level dental hygienist jobs actually pay about $20 per hour. Of course, with time and experience, that figure will increase. In fact, dental hygienists with 20 years of experience can command almost double that figure, which is quite impressive for any field.
That said, in order to start earning a significant income as a dental hygienist, you’ll need to get the education required.
Education requirement for a dental hygienist
In order to earn the top dental hygienist salary, you’ll need to have a firm education. In order to be licensed, you will need an associate’s degree from an accredited school. If you want to move to more advanced fields of study within dentistry, you can study for a bachelor’s degree or even a master’s degree.
During your standard training in dental hygienist schools, you will learn more about dental materials, head and neck anatomy, dental radiology, facial anatomy, microbiology and periodontics.
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