Why dental hygienist salary is rapidly increasing in US?
In US alone, there are millions of people suffering from toothache and other teeth related health problems. This fact has boosted the demand for professional and experienced dental hygienists in recent years. In fact, dental hygienist has already become one of the top medical jobs in the country and the salary for such profession is continuously on the rise every year.
The education cost for dental hygienist is quite higher in several medical universities but rapidly increasing dental hygienist salary can compensate those educational expenses in few years. There are several factors that are affecting the growth of the salary for this profession. Some of the important factors are the quality education, actual work experience and the work location.
What is the current average dental hygienist salary in US?
The current average salary range for dental hygienist in US is about $62,144. Depending upon the work location, work experience and educational background, this average salary figure is subjected to change. The lowest possible average earnings of a dental hygienist are about $20.5 per hour while the highest average earnings are about $43 per hour.
A reliable salary survey indicates that a professional dental hygienist having more than 8 years of quality work experience earns about $100,000 per year. Average salary for a dental hygienist having two years of work experience is about $40,000 per year while the average salary range for a dental hygienist who is in the profession for more than 5-7 years is close to $60,000 per year.
This salary range is also affected by the change in work location. Alaska, Nevada, Washington and California are some of the US states that offer highest dental hygienist salary packages. Dental professionals working in Alaska earn the highest figure which can go up to $90,000 per year while those working in Nevada earn about $77,000 per year. Professionals working in Washington as well as California earn about $81,000 per year. Dental hygienists working at private dentist offices earn about 65,000 per year while their counterparts working at public hospitals earn about 57,000 per year.
What is the job description for dental hygienist in US?
The main job responsibility of a dental hygienist is to advise the patients about good dental habits like regular teeth cleaning, proper use of toothbrush and the importance of regular dental checkups. Another important job of a dental professional is to make patients aware about the dangers of smoking, drinking addictions as well as the importance of following a healthy diet for teeth.
Dental hygienists also keep check on the overall health of teeth, gums and mouth of the patients. Following important dental care practices and diagnosis of serious dental ailments is also an important part of the job description for dental professionals. Application of fluoride, sealants, teeth polishing and providing proper medical prescriptions for the patients is also essential for all dental hygienists.
There is a huge market growth potential for dental hygienist profession. With the tremendous rise in dental hygienist salary every year, all aspiring professionals should take advantage of this career path.