2011 RDH eVillage Salary Survey, part 3: dental hygiene salaries and benefits in metropolitan areas
Several metropolitan areas indicated a decrease in dental hygiene salaries during 2011, and comments from respondents indicate a strong belief that a surplus of graduates sparked by an increase of dental hygiene schools is a major factor behind the lowering of salaries.
The third part of the survey offers statistics for specific metropolitan areas, as well as for the states adjoining the area.
Collectively, urban hygienists offer these demographic findings:
- 43% have health insurance available through their employers
- 82% practice in general dentistry settings
- 51% answered "business is good, but it has slowed down somewhat" in response to a question where RDH eVillage asked the respondent to rate the financial health of a dental practice.
- 82% believe economic conditions have affected their ability to "earn the maximum income that you pursue.
- 62% indicate that dental hygiene remains their career choice and are not considering leaving the profession.
- 65% say it is "extremely difficult to find a job" in their area.
- 76% said it has been more than a year since they last received a raise.
As of Oct. 24, 2011, 1,889 dental hygienists had participated in the survey. Overall, 946 (50%) indicated that they practice in a "metropolitan area, including suburbs." Respondents could choose from a list of the top 24 metropolitan areas in the United States, according to census rankings; 625 (66% of the "urban" hygienists and 33% of the total) chose one of these metropolitan areas referred to below.
The first part of the salary survey offered an overall reporting of statistics for dental hygienists in the United States and can be viewed here.
The second part offered a state-by-state breakdown of dental hygiene salaries and benefits, and can be viewed here.
And, yes, the cities below are not listed in alphabetical order or according to any population ranking. The listing is based on the number of responses each city received. We project that higher response rates lead to more accuracy.
Chicago metropolitan area
San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose metropolitan area
Los Angeles metropolitan area
New York City metropolitan area
Phoenix metropolitan area
Detroit metropolitan area
Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area
Atlanta metropolitan area
District of Columbia metropolitan area
Seattle metropolitan area
Denver metropolitan area
Minneapolis metropolitan area
Philadelphia metropolitan area
Austin-San Antonio metropolitan area
Tampa-St. Petersburg metropolitan area
St. Louis metropolitan area
Boston metropolitan area
Houston metropolitan area
Kansas City metropolitan area
Indianapolis metropolitan area
Baltimore metropolitan area
San Diego metropolitan area
Pittsburgh metropolitan area
Miami metropolitan area
