Dental hygienists earn about $59.38 per hour in Washington, the state with the highest average hourly wage for dental hygienists, compared to the state's minimum wage of $16.28.
Here is how the average hourly wage for dental hygienists compares to the minimum wage for each state, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the U.S. Department of Labor:
Alabama
Average hourly wage for dental hygienists: $26.18
State minimum hourly wage: No state minimum wage law, but employers subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act must pay the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.
Alaska
Average hourly wage for dental hygienists: $55.76
State minimum hourly wage: $11.73
Arizona
Average hourly wage for dental hygienists: $44.45
State minimum hourly wage: $14.35
Arkansas
Average hourly wage for dental hygienists: $37.52
State minimum hourly wage: $11.00
California
Average hourly wage for dental hygienists: $56.89
State minimum hourly wage: $16.00
Colorado
Average hourly wage for dental hygienists: $48.94
State minimum hourly wage: $14.42
Connecticut
Average hourly wage for dental hygienists: $45.30
State minimum hourly wage: $15.69
Delaware
Average hourly wage for dental hygienists: $47.43
State minimum hourly wage: $13.25
Florida
Average hourly wage for dental hygienists: $39.03
State minimum hourly wage: $12.00
Georgia
Average hourly wage for dental hygienists: $41.15
State minimum hourly wage: $5.15 for companies exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Hawaii
Average hourly wage for dental hygienists: $43.78
State minimum hourly wage: $14.00
Idaho
Average hourly wage for dental hygienists: $40.57
State minimum hourly wage: $7.25
Illinois
Average hourly wage for dental hygienists: $39.65
State minimum hourly wage: $14.00
Indiana
Average hourly wage for dental hygienists: $39.81
State minimum hourly wage: $7.25
Iowa
Average hourly wage for dental hygienists: $40.01
State minimum hourly wage: $7.25
Kansas
Average hourly wage for dental hygienists: $38.06
State minimum hourly wage: $7.25
Kentucky
Average hourly wage for dental hygienists: $35.51
State minimum hourly wage: $7.25
Louisiana
Average hourly wage for dental hygienists: $37.97
State minimum hourly wage: No state minimum wage law, but employers subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act must pay the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.
Maine
Average hourly wage for dental hygienists: $38.61
State minimum hourly wage: $14.15
Maryland
Average hourly wage for dental hygienists: $48.62
State minimum hourly wage: $15.00
Massachusetts
Average hourly wage for dental hygienists: $46.35
State minimum hourly wage: $15.00
Michigan
Average hourly wage for dental hygienists: $36.93
State minimum hourly wage: $10.33
Minnesota
Average hourly wage for dental hygienists: $43.34
State minimum hourly wage: $8.85 for companies with revenue under $500,000; $10.85 for companies making more.
Mississippi
Average hourly wage for dental hygienists:$29.87
State minimum hourly wage: No state minimum wage law, but employers subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act must pay the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.
Missouri
Average hourly wage for dental hygienists: $38.34
State minimum hourly wage: $12.30, except for federal employees and employees of a retail or service business with revenue under $500,000.
Montana
Average hourly wage for dental hygienists: $42.78
State minimum hourly wage: $10.30 for companies with gross sales over $110,000; $4.00 for businesses not covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act with gross annual sales of $110,000 or less.
Nebraska
Average hourly wage for dental hygienists: $39.74
State minimum hourly wage: $12.00 for companies with four or more employees
Nevada
Average hourly wage for dental hygienists: $43.42
State minimum hourly wage: $10.25 with health insurance provided; $11.25 without health insurance
New Hampshire
Average hourly wage for dental hygienists: $44.63
State minimum hourly wage: $7.25
New Jersey
Average hourly wage for dental hygienists: $46.01
State minimum hourly wage: $15.13; $13.73 for seasonal and small employers with fewer than six employees
New Mexico
Average hourly wage for dental hygienists: $44.28
State minimum hourly wage: $12.00
New York
Average hourly wage for dental hygienists: $41.97
State minimum hourly wage: $15.00; $16.00 for New York City, Nassau County, Suffolk County and Westchester County.
North Carolina
Average hourly wage for dental hygienists: $39.80
State minimum hourly wage: $7.25
North Dakota
Average hourly wage for dental hygienists: $38.52
State minimum hourly wage: $7.25
Ohio
Average hourly wage for dental hygienists: $38.11
State minimum hourly wage: $10.45 for employers with annual gross receipts of $385,000 or more; $7.25 everywhere else
Oklahoma
Average hourly wage for dental hygienists: $43.89
State minimum hourly wage: $7.25 for employers of 10 or more full-time employees at any one location and employers with annual gross sales over $100,000 irrespective of number of full-time employees; $2 for all other employers.
Oregon
Average hourly wage for dental hygienists: $49.73
State minimum hourly wage: $14.20; $15.45 for the Portland metro area; and $13.20 non-Urban counties.
Pennsylvania
Average hourly wage for dental hygienists: $37.02
State minimum hourly wage: $7.25
Rhode Island
Average hourly wage for dental hygienists: $38.45
State minimum hourly wage: $14.00
South Carolina
Average hourly wage for dental hygienists: $37
State minimum hourly wage: No state minimum wage law, but employers subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act must pay the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.
South Dakota
Average hourly wage for dental hygienists: $39.10
State minimum hourly wage: $11.20
Tennessee
Average hourly wage for dental hygienists: $36.50
State minimum hourly wage: No state minimum wage law, but employers subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act must pay the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.
Texas
Average hourly wage for dental hygienists: $41.96
State minimum hourly wage: $7.25
Utah
Average hourly wage for dental hygienists: $37.94
State minimum hourly wage: $7.25
Vermont
Average hourly wage for dental hygienists: $44.38
State minimum hourly wage: $13.67 for employers with two or more employees
Virginia
Average hourly wage for dental hygienists: $44.13
State minimum hourly wage: $12.00
Washington
Average hourly wage for dental hygienists: $59.38
State minimum hourly wage: $16.28
West Virginia
Average hourly wage for dental hygienists: $33.09
State minimum hourly wage: $8.75 for companies with six or more employees at one location
Wisconsin
Average hourly wage for dental hygienists: $38.68
State minimum hourly wage: $7.25
Wyoming
Average hourly wage for dental hygienists: $38.86
State minimum hourly wage: $5.15 for companies exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act