Dental Hygienist Salary (2026)

The average dental hygienist salary in 2026 is $102,946 per year, according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (2025 release). This figure represents the national median — meaning half of all dental hygienists earn more, and half earn less. BLS collects this data through a survey of approximately 1.1 million business establishments across the United States, making it the most reliable source of wage information available.

The median is generally a better indicator than the mean (average) for salary data because it isn't skewed by extremely high or low earners. For dental hygienists, the gap between entry-level and top-earner pay is significant: the 10th percentile sits at $69,754 while the 90th percentile reaches $125,991 — a spread of $56,237 driven primarily by geography, experience, and practice setting.

“RDH” stands for Dental Hygienist — the professional credential held by licensed dental hygienists across the United States. RDH salary and dental hygienist salary refer to the same compensation, though the term “dental hygiene salary” sometimes includes related roles like dental therapists in states where that licensure exists.

Three primary factors drive dental hygienist pay differences: location (metro areas in Alaska pay $138,257 on average versus $62,250 in Puerto Rico), experience (entry-level to senior spans over $56,237), and practice setting (periodontal offices and DSOs typically pay more than general practices). Explore the detailed breakdowns below.