Dental Hygenist Salary: Factors That Can Affect Potential Income
Among the many reasons why the dental hygienist job is so attractive is because of the high salary along with flexible working options. A dental hygenist salary can range from $44,000 up to $90,000 annually. This is of course, depending on many factors.
Ideally, the nearer you are in major cities, the higher the salary you can get. However, expect that the cost of living is also relatively higher in big cities. Salary also depends on their work setting and number of years of practice and experience. There are also various positions available for dental hygienists. Those who graduated with a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree sometimes end up in the fields of research, teaching, consumer advocacy and marketing.
One great benefit of the dental hygienist job is the comfortable working conditions and the flexible work schedule. Some prefer to work full time while others work only part time. Some dentists hire dental hygienists to help them work for only 2-3 time a week. Their schedules are so flexible in fact that sometimes they maintain jobs from several different employers. Some even receive salary on an hourly or commission basis. While juggling multiple employers may seem hectic, the stress level in this kind of job is fairly average.
Some dental hygienists prefer to work under the federal government or state agencies. Some prefer to work as educators in universities. The government and schools often give generous benefit packages including dental coverage. Benefits vary by employer and may require full-time hours.