Dental hygienists earn nearly double the average annual wage of dental assistants in the U.S., according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Hygienists earned an average annual salary of $89,890 in 2023, compared with$47,350 for dental assistants.
The state where hygienists earned the most was Washington, making an average of $123,510. Assistants earned the most in Minnesota, averaging $62,760.
Here is how the average annual salary compares between dental hygienists and dental assistants in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., in 2023:
Alabama
Hygienists: $54,460
Assistants: $37,440
Alaska
Hygienists: $115,980
Assistants: $53,020
Arizona
Hygienists: $92,460
Assistants: $47,030
Arkansas
Hygienists: $78,040
Assistants: $40,440
California
Hygienists: $118,330
Assistants: $52,470
Colorado
Hygienists: $101,790
Assistants: $50,940
Connecticut
Hygienists: $94,220
Assistants: $49,590
Delaware
Hygienists: $98,660
Assistants: $49,040
District of Columbia
Hygienists: $113,600
Assistants: $55,100
Florida
Hygienists: $81,180
Assistants: $46,240
Georgia
Hygienists: $85,600
Assistants: $43,710
Hawaii
Hygienists: $91,070
Assistants: $42,960
Idaho
Hygienists: $84,390
Assistants: $40,200
Illinois
Hygienists: $82,470
Assistants: $42,420
Indiana
Hygienists: $82,800
Assistants: $47,250
Iowa
Hygienists: $83,220
Assistants: $49,140
Kansas
Hygienists: $79,160
Assistants: $41,140
Kentucky
Hygienists: $73,850
Assistants: $41,090
Louisiana
Hygienists: $78,980
Assistants: $38,290
Maine
Hygienists: $80,310
Assistants: $48,760
Maryland
Hygienists: $101,140
Assistants: $50,040
Massachusetts
Hygienists: $96,410
Assistants: $56,810
Michigan
Hygienists: $76,800
Assistants: $45,210
Minnesota
Hygienists: $90,140
Assistants: $62,760
Mississippi
Hygienists: $62,120
Assistants: $37,610
Missouri
Hygienists: $79,740
Assistants: $44,450
Montana
Hygienists: $88,990
Assistants: $43,280
Nebraska
Hygienists: $82,660
Assistants: $43,930
Nevada
Hygienists: $90,320
Assistants: $46,200
New Hampshire
Hygienists: $92,840
Assistants: $54,190
New Jersey
Hygienists: $95,700
Assistants: $46,950
New Mexico
Hygienists: $92,100
Assistants: $40,530
New York
Hygienists: $87,290
Assistants: $48,290
North Carolina
Hygienists: $82,780
Assistants: $47,840
North Dakota
Hygienists: $80,130
Assistants: $54,010
Ohio
Hygienists: $79,260
Assistants: $49,550
Oklahoma
Hygienists: $91,280
Assistants: $41,470
Oregon
Hygienists: $103,440
Assistants: $55,960
Pennsylvania
Hygienists: $77,010
Assistants: $47,770
Rhode Island
Hygienists: $79,980
Assistants: $52,030
South Carolina
Hygienists: $76,950
Assistants: $46,940
South Dakota
Hygienists: $81,330
Assistants: $47,620
Tennessee
Hygienists: $75,920
Assistants: $43,910
Texas
Hygienists: $87,270
Assistants: $41,690
Utah
Hygienists: $78,910
Assistants: $39,350
Vermont
Hygienists: $92,310
Assistants: $53,860
Virginia
Hygienists: $91,800
Assistants: $47,630
Washington
Hygienists: $123,510
Assistants: $54,190
West Virginia
Hygienists: $68,820
Assistants: $39,890
Wisconsin
Hygienists: $80,450
Assistants: $45,700
Wyoming
Hygienists: $80,820
Assistants: $47,560