Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2011

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)
184,110 1.4 % $33.54 $69,760 0.6 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median) 		75% 90%
Hourly Wage $22.12 $27.38 $33.31 $40.05 $45.60
Annual Wage (2) $46,020 $56,950 $69,280 $83,310 $94,850

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 176,670 21.14 $33.69 $70,070
Offices of Physicians 1,860 0.08 $30.84 $64,160
Employment Services 1,240 0.04 $31.10 $64,690
Outpatient Care Centers 690 0.11 $33.28 $69,220
Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) 590 0.03 $25.94 $53,960

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 176,670 21.14 $33.69 $70,070
Outpatient Care Centers 690 0.11 $33.28 $69,220
Offices of Physicians 1,860 0.08 $30.84 $64,160
Offices of Other Health Practitioners 470 0.07 $32.07 $66,710
Employment Services 1,240 0.04 $31.10 $64,690

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Facilities Support Services 40 0.03 $35.89 $74,650
Other Ambulatory Health Care Services 60 0.02 $34.03 $70,790
Offices of Dentists 176,670 21.14 $33.69 $70,070
Outpatient Care Centers 690 0.11 $33.28 $69,220
Offices of Other Health Practitioners 470 0.07 $32.07 $66,710

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 19,590 1.40 0.97 $43.75 $91,010
Texas 10,850 1.05 0.73 $32.30 $67,190
Florida 9,800 1.37 0.95 $27.93 $58,080
New York 9,690 1.15 0.80 $32.91 $68,440
Michigan 8,930 2.33 1.63 $28.99 $60,310




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)
Michigan 8,930 2.33 1.63 $28.99 $60,310
Utah 2,410 2.07 1.44 $31.67 $65,880
Idaho 1,210 2.04 1.42 $33.20 $69,060
Connecticut 3,290 2.04 1.42 $41.20 $85,700
Washington 5,430 2.00 1.39 $43.47 $90,420




Top paying States for this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 19,590 1.40 0.97 $43.75 $91,010
District of Columbia 430 0.66 0.46 $43.51 $90,500
Washington 5,430 2.00 1.39 $43.47 $90,420
Nevada 1,280 1.15 0.80 $42.60 $88,620
Alaska 410 1.31 0.91 $41.50 $86,310





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 5,620 1.57 1.09 $29.93 $62,250
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division 4,280 1.12 0.78 $44.78 $93,130
New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division 3,790 0.75 0.52 $38.82 $80,740
Warren-Troy-Farmington Hills, MI Metropolitan Division 3,040 2.93 2.04 $29.78 $61,940
Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division 2,910 1.43 0.99 $35.83 $74,530
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA 2,830 1.27 0.89 $33.66 $70,020
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 2,820 1.65 1.15 $34.84 $72,480
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division 2,700 1.17 0.81 $44.47 $92,500
Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA Metropolitan Division 2,660 1.95 1.36 $45.19 $94,000
Philadelphia, PA Metropolitan Division 2,530 1.40 0.97 $30.54 $63,520