Dental Hygienists in Pennsylvania
Thinking about a career as a Dental Hygienists in Pennsylvania? Below are the key facts. Administer oral hygiene care to patients. Assess patient oral hygiene problems or needs and maintain health records. Advise patients on oral health maintenance and disease prevention. May provide advanced care such as providing fluoride treatment or administering topical anesthesia.
What do Dental Hygienists Make in Pennsylvania?
For a dental hygienists working in Pennsylvania, the typical annual salary is $81,510 per year (or roughly $39.19/hour).Earnings range from $63,230 at the 10th percentile to $102,030 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $63,230 | $30.40 |
| 25th percentile | $75,250 | $36.18 |
| Median (50th) | $81,510 | $39.19 |
| 75th percentile | $98,850 | $47.52 |
| 90th percentile | $102,030 | $49.06 |
Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in Pennsylvania relative to the national average — is 1.01.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, dental hygienists earn a median of $101,356 per year ($48.73/hour), lower than the Pennsylvania median.
Employment Outlook
Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 3,471,633 dental hygienists across the United States. In Pennsylvania alone, about 8,640 people work in this role. That’s more than the typical state, which employs around 2,840 dental hygienists.
Top Pennsylvania Metros for Dental Hygienists
These are the Pennsylvania metros with the most dental hygienists in Pennsylvania.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 4,300 | $100,970 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,690 | $76,220 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | 570 | $83,900 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | 420 | $81,510 |
| Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, PA | 410 | $65,380 |
| Lancaster, PA | 370 | $82,040 |
| York-Hanover, PA | 320 | $81,630 |
| Reading, PA | 190 | $79,490 |
| Erie, PA | 160 | $75,080 |
| State College, PA | 130 | $74,420 |
| Altoona, PA | 80 | $74,810 |
| Chambersburg, PA | 70 | $83,200 |
| Gettysburg, PA | 50 | $80,420 |
| Lebanon, PA | 50 | $80,020 |
| Williamsport, PA | 40 | $75,870 |
Top States for Dental Hygienists Employment
These states have the highest employment of dental hygienists work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| California | 22,940 |
| Texas | 16,010 |
| Florida | 13,860 |
| New York | 10,350 |
| Illinois | 8,740 |
| Pennsylvania | 8,640 |
| Ohio | 8,500 |
| Michigan | 8,320 |
| Georgia | 7,360 |
| North Carolina | 7,030 |
| Massachusetts | 6,780 |
| New Jersey | 6,030 |
| Wisconsin | 5,620 |
| Washington | 5,140 |
| Indiana | 5,110 |
| Arizona | 5,040 |
| Minnesota | 4,660 |
| Tennessee | 4,550 |
| Colorado | 4,470 |
| Utah | 3,940 |
Highest-Paying States for Dental Hygienists
The highest-paying states for dental hygienists.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $129,760 |
| District of Columbia | $127,900 |
| Washington | $125,370 |
| California | $121,080 |
| Oregon | $118,280 |
| Colorado | $106,730 |
| Maryland | $105,140 |
| Nevada | $103,160 |
| New Jersey | $102,600 |
| Massachusetts | $100,790 |
Skills
Top dental hygienists skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
Key abilities for dental hygienists, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Day-to-day, dental hygienists typically:
- Record and review patient medical histories.
- Feel and visually examine gums for sores and signs of disease.
- Examine gums, using probes, to locate periodontal recessed gums and signs of gum disease.
- Clean calcareous deposits, accretions, and stains from teeth and beneath margins of gums, using dental instruments.
- Provide clinical services or health education to improve and maintain the oral health of patients or the general public.
- Chart conditions of decay and disease for diagnosis and treatment by dentist.
- Expose and develop x-ray film.
- Attend continuing education courses to maintain or update skills.
- Apply fluorides or other cavity preventing agents to arrest dental decay.
- Maintain dental equipment and sharpen and sterilize dental instruments.
- Maintain patient recall system.
- Feel lymph nodes under patient's chin to detect swelling or tenderness that could indicate presence of oral cancer.
Work Activities
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
- Assisting and Caring for Others
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
- Documenting/Recording Information
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others
- Handling and Moving Objects
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Getting Information
- Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
Tools & Technology
Common tools and software used in this occupation include: Hot technologies: Henry Schein Dentrix
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Several college majors map to this occupation:
- Dental Support Services
Featured schools near , edit
Related Careers
Related occupations to dental hygienists include:
- Dentists, General
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
- Orthodontists
- Prosthodontists
- Anesthesiologist Assistants
- Respiratory Therapists
Also Known As
Dental Hygienist, Dental Nurse, Dental Treatment Coordinator, Hygienist, Licensed Dental Hygienist, Oral Hygienist, Pediatric Dental Hygienist, Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH).
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 29-1292.00
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