With the exception of New York, where there’s usually a huge difference in the hourly rates between dental hygienists in rural areas and those working in New York City, the RDH eVillage salary survey seldom picks up on any significant difference between rural and metropolitan settings. Despite cost-of-living differences between the two geographic settings, income differentials are often merely pennies apart.The 2010 salary survey added the demographic category of specific metropolitan areas. The listing below starts with the metropolitan area with the most responses to the survey (Chicago) and ends with the city with the fewest (San Antonio).This is the third part of the 2010 RDH eVillage salary survey. To view the first part, which offered an overall national perspective, click here. To view the second part, which provided information about hourly and daily rates in all 50 states, click here. Chicago
Who they were• 62 responses• 53% have practiced for more than 20 years, and 31% have practiced 10 to 20 years.• 60% listed associate’s degrees, and 31% listed bachelor’s degrees as the highest level of completed education.• 66% practice either four or five days a week, and 22% practice three days a week.The pay
• 87% earn an hourly rate.• The average hourly rate for the Chicago metropolitan area is $37.46.• The most common rates reported were $38 (18% of all respondents), $35 (13%), $40 (13%), and $39 (9%).• Five of the 67 hourly rates reported were above $44.The benefits received
• 43% receive health insurance.• 51% receive an employer contribution toward retirement.• 83% receive paid vacation and holidays.• 28% receive paid sick leave.• 11% receive life insurance.• 28% receive dental insurance.• 6% receive disability insurance.• 51% receive CE tuition reimbursement.Interesting comments about Chicago
• I wouldn't say that it is extremely difficult to find a dental hygiene job in Chicago, but it is somewhat difficult. I see more hygienists piecing together a job with one day in this office, one day in that office. That's how it was when I graduated in 1978. So things are going backwards somewhat. There are 13 dental hygiene schools in Illinois, and I think they are just graduating too many hygienists. Consequently, salaries are going down. I am fortunate to be full time in one office.• Number of hygienist jobs listed in the last 30 days in the greater Chicagoland area = 10; number of assistant jobs listed in the last 30 days in the same area = 143; number of resumes the last dentist I interviewed with received in only two days = 100; number of hygienists she interviewed = 20; and I was NOT hired. The person who runs the temp agency I work out of (when they have something) tells me she has started to get permanent job openings that offer $5 to $10 an hour less than what was offered a year ago. Many assistants I know now are expanded function. In Illinois, expanded function assistants can do coronal polishing and apply sealants. The doctors are having them do coronal polishing and sealants on children, calling the polishing a "prophy" and billing both services the same way as when a hygienist did them. One is doing "prophys" on "children" up to 18 years of age! I know a hygienist whose practice cut her hours from 28 to 12 a week, and she says the associate dentist in her office has taken over all the SRPs since her crown and bridgework has dried up. Three guesses as to where the hygienist jobs have gone. And the first two don't count.San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose
Who they were
• 40 responses• 70% have practiced for more than 10 years.• 55% listed associate’s degrees, and 35% listed bachelor’s degrees as the highest level of completed education.• 50% practice either four or five days a week, and 38% practice two or three days a week.The pay
• 63% earn a daily rate.• The average daily rate for this northern California metropolitan area is $452.• The most common rates reported were $425 a day (17% of the respondents), $400 (11%), and $450 (11%).• 20% of the 35 daily rates reported were above $500, including the highest rate reported of $534.• 19 hourly rates were reported; the average hourly rate is $53.67• 84% reported earning $50 or more an hour, including the highest rate of $65.• The most common hourly rate was $55 (26% of all respondents) The benefits received
• 38% receive health insurance.• 52% receive an employer contribution toward retirement.• 62% receive paid vacation and holidays.• 35% receive paid sick leave.• 3% receive life insurance.• 24% receive dental insurance.• 7% receive disability insurance.• 62% receive CE tuition reimbursement.Interesting comments about the San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose area
• There are too many dental hygiene schools in my area, so the area is flooded with tons of new grad dental hygienists. There are hundreds of applications for one position. It takes about six months or more to find work, and new grads must be willing to take a 30% cut in pay. The dental hygiene market is a mess. It is harder for older hygienists to find work.• There are too many RDH schools and not enough jobs. Some schools are accepting applicants without requiring general education. Employers are noticing these students aren't the most marketable, but perhaps the cheapest employees.• I am very happy with my current status (days worked) and feel fortunate to be employed in this economy. My office has slowed down, but so far there has been no significant decrease in hygiene hours. But our schedules are not full each day. Our area has been hit fairly hard by recent economic times and patients are very dentally motivated by insurance coverage.• New grads are really struggling to find jobs, and it is the same with RN new grads. Schools for both careers have greatly expanded, creating an excess supply, and this will continue for many years.• There is a influx of RDHs in this area. There are a lot of inquiries at the office from subs trying to work while looking for permanent employment. The downturn of the economy makes it even harder for them.Los Angeles
Who they were
• 39 responses• 51% have practiced for more than 20 years; 36% have practiced six to 20 years.• 54% listed bachelor’s degrees, and 36% listed associate’s degrees as the highest level of completed education.• 44% practice either four or five days a week, and 33% practice three days a week.The pay
• 80% earn a daily rate.• The average daily rate for the Los Angeles metropolitan area is $395.• The most common rate reported was $400 a day (25% of the respondents).• Three of the 36 daily rates reported were above $475.• 25% reported earning $350, $360, or $375 a day.The benefits received
• 53% receive health insurance.• 74% receive an employer contribution toward retirement.• 68% receive paid vacation and holidays.• 37% receive paid sick leave.• 16% receive life insurance.• 21% receive dental insurance.• 11% receive disability insurance.• 53% receive CE tuition reimbursement.Interesting comments about Los Angeles
• I have worked in dentistry for over 30 years, and my husband works in an industry that directly involves him with dentists. Our opinion is that most dentists seem to be very resentful about the salaries they pay their hygienists. Because of my salary, my employer doesn’t feel I deserve any benefits even though I've been with him for 25 years. It’s my own fault for staying, but I'm thankful to have a job with this economy. There are very few employment opportunities in Orange County.• In the Southern California area, salaries have dropped dramatically, and a lot of dentists are looking for hygienists with experience. It is very difficult for new grads to find a job. It is sad how overpopulated it is here with dentists and hygienists.• Too many dental hygiene schools are opening and flooding the market. In my opinion, this is going to have a negative impact on pay scales. I see the trend happening already.• Benefits and some type of retirement should be provided to hygienists, or least they should be offered as an option in lieu of a salary increase. Also, many hygienists are single parents.Phoenix
Who they were
• 38 responses• 42% have practiced for more than 20 years; 40% have practiced six to 20 years.• 66% listed bachelor’s degrees, and 32% listed associate’s degrees as the highest level of completed education.• 57% practice either four or five days a week, and 27% practice three days a week.The pay
• 79% earn an hourly rate.• The average hourly rate for the Phoenix metropolitan area is $40.14.• The most common rate reported was $40 (31% of the respondents).• 31% reported earning $41 to $45 an hour. • 22% reported earning either $38 or $39 an hour.The benefits received
• 34% receive health insurance.• 50% receive an employer contribution toward retirement.• 81% receive paid vacation and holidays.• 28% receive paid sick leave.• 13% receive life insurance.• 22% receive dental insurance.• 3% receive disability insurance.• 47% receive CE tuition reimbursement.Interesting comments about Phoenix
• There are several more community colleges turning out less qualified hygienists than when I graduated 31 years ago. The requirements are less stringent. It had been a great career up until the last 10 years. I’m glad I’m looking at retirement rather than starting this career.• The lack of salary increases is just the beginning of complications in the dental profession in my area. Not only did the number of available positions in all levels of the dental profession fall astronomically, but let’s mention how many new dental and dental hygiene schools just opened throughout the state in the last two years. There is now a huge surplus of all dental professionals, a very high rate of unemployment, and dentists filing bankruptcy/closing down their practices permanently. The opportunities continue to decrease with no chances of improvement anywhere in sight.New York City
Who they were
• 38 responses• The New York City metropolitan area extends across multiple state boundaries. 34% practice in New Jersey; 3% practice in Connecticut; and the remainder practice in New York.• 63% have practiced for more than 20 years.• 65% listed associate’s degrees, and 30% listed bachelor’s degrees as the highest level of completed education.• 51% practice either four or five days a week, and 40% practice three days a week.The pay
• 90% earn an hourly rate.• The average hourly rate for the New York City metropolitan area is $40.53• The most common rates reported were $35 and $40. The two rates comprised 36% of the respondents.• Three of the 39 hourly rates reported were above $50.• 18% reported earning $37 or $38 an hour.• 24% reported earning $41 to $45 an hour.The benefits received
• 52% receive health insurance.• 44% receive an employer contribution toward retirement.• 78% receive paid vacation and holidays.• 52% receive paid sick leave.• 7% receive life insurance.• 19% receive dental insurance• 15% receive disability insurance.• 56% receive CE tuition reimbursement.Interesting comments about New York City
• Salaries in the New York metropolitan area depend on years of experience, location, and type of office where you are working. Some hygienists’ salaries also depend on how many cases they can sell for the month.• The practice I work in is making money. The doctor puts himself before the rest of the staff, making us wait for a paycheck while he pays himself. He is using the economy to bully his staff!• There are too many hygiene programs for the number of hygienists needed today. It is a matter of supply and demand. We need fewer graduates and programs until there is a greater demand for hygienists. Until this is done, many hygienists will find it very difficult to secure employment.Dallas-Fort Worth
Who they were
• 36 responses• 66% have practiced for more than 20 years.• 50% listed associate’s degrees, and 42% listed bachelor’s degrees as the highest level of completed education.• 71% practice either four or five days a week.The pay
• 75% earn an hourly rate.• The average hourly rate for the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area is $36.12.• The most common rates reported were $35 and $36. The two rates comprised 39% of the respondents.• Overall, 68% of the reported hourly rates were between $34 and $38.The benefits received
• 26% receive health insurance.• 55% receive an employer contribution toward retirement.• 81% receive paid vacation and holidays.• 45% receive paid sick leave.• 19% receive life insurance.• 26% receive dental insurance.• 16% receive disability insurance.• 45% receive CE tuition reimbursement.Interesting comments about Dallas
• The climate for hygiene is grim and will only get worse in Texas due to three for-profit hygiene schools opening in the next one to two years. At that point the job market will totally dry up and salaries will be in the trash.• Temp agencies are not getting requests. Everyone seems to be holding on to their positions and not taking time off.Detroit
Who they were
• 34 responses• 85% have practiced for more than 10 years.• 47% listed associate’s degrees, and 44% listed bachelor’s degrees as the highest level of completed education.• 39% practice three days a week, and 36% practice either four or five days a week.The pay
• 94% earn an hourly rate.• The average hourly rate for the Detroit metropolitan area is $31.11.• The most common rates reported were $32 (16% of all respondents), $28 (13%), $30 (13%), and $31 (11%).• 29% earn $33 to $36 an hour (the latter was the highest rate reported).The benefits received
• 31% receive health insurance.• 38% receive an employer contribution toward retirement.• 76% receive paid vacation and holidays.• 14% receive paid sick leave.• 10% receive life insurance.• 14% receive dental insurance• 7% receive disability insurance.• 45% receive CE tuition reimbursement.Interesting comments about Detroit
• I have worked for one practice for six years. I have never received a raise. Because I would not take a $7 pay cut, my hours were slashed. My employer believes hygienists are overpaid and thinks they will work for $20 an hour due to the economy. Unfortunately, new grads are accepting low pay due to the economy• Economy is a big issue in this area; there is extreme unemployment.• Raises are nonexistent, and with a surplus of hygienists the doctors will just find another to replace you if you complain.• I know of some offices that made their hygienists take a 10% pay cut.Denver
Who they were
• 31 responses• 52% have practiced for more than 20 years.• 48% listed bachelor’s degrees, and 42% listed associate’s degrees as the highest level of completed education.• 62% practice either four or five days a week, and 21% practice three days a week.The pay
• 87% earn an hourly rate.• The average hourly rate for the Denver metropolitan area is $39.42.• The most common rates reported were $40 (15% of all respondents), $38 (12%), and $42 (12%).• Overall, the hourly rates ranged from a high of $45 to a low of $29.The benefits received
• 67% receive health insurance.• 70% receive an employer contribution toward retirement.• 85% receive paid vacation and holidays.• 33% receive paid sick leave.• 19% receive life insurance.• 26% receive dental insurance.• 11% receive disability insurance• 48% receive CE tuition reimbursement.Interesting comments about Denver
• It’s very hard to find a job, there is an overabundance of hygienists, and my age is against me.• There seems to be a trend in which offices prefer to pay a low hourly or daily rate accompanied by a commission.• There has been a slow down on hourly rate increases.• Fees are being raised for the patients, but as employees we rarely see an increase in our salaries.Atlanta
Who they were
• 30 responses• 40% have practiced for more than 20 years, and 33% have practiced for six to 10 years.• 53% listed associate’s degrees, and 43% listed bachelor’s degrees as the highest level of completed education.• 66% practice either four or five days a week, and 28% practice three days a week.The pay
• 77% earn an hourly rate.• The average hourly rate for the Atlanta metropolitan area is $37.02.• The most common rate reported was $35, comprising 17% of the respondents.• 26% earn $40 an hour or more.The benefits received
• 41% receive health insurance.• 59% receive an employer contribution toward retirement.• 90% receive paid vacation and holidays.• 45% receive paid sick leave.• 3% receive life insurance.• 28% receive dental insurance.• 7% receive disability insurance.• 48% receive CE tuition reimbursement.Interesting comments about Atlanta
• The market in my area is saturated. Along with this problem and the economy, my employer knows I am stuck. I have taken two pay cuts in the last year to keep my job.• Our area is really being hit by the bad economy; jobs in this field are scarce. Many patients are losing their jobs, thus their insurance. I see I may be laid off in the future due to the economy.• Even though I am making the same salary, there have been cuts in the quality of products we use. The practice has even cut out dispensing items like floss or toothbrushes. I am thankful for the job but would still like to be able to treat patients the same quality service.St. Louis
Who they were
• 29 responses• All but two responses (Illinois) came from the Missouri side of the city. • 72% have practiced for more than 20 years.• 76% listed associate’s degrees, and 10% listed bachelor’s degrees as the highest level of completed education.• 75% practice either four or five days a week, and 11% practice three days a week.The pay
• 79% earn an hourly rate.• The average hourly rate for the St. Louis metropolitan area is $32.73.• The most common rates reported were $32 (comprising 21% of the respondents), $33 (21%), and $34 (17%).• $40 was the highest hourly rate reported, and $29 was the lowest.The benefits received
• 35% receive health insurance.• 54% receive an employer contribution toward retirement.• 85% receive paid vacation and holidays.• 35% receive paid sick leave.• 12% receive life insurance.• 27% receive dental insurance.• 12% receive disability insurance.• 50% receive CE tuition reimbursement.Interesting comments about St. Louis
• There are absolutely no jobs in the St. Louis area. There are three schools in the area that crank out very poorly trained associate level hygienists. Salaries keep getting lower because hygienists are so desperate for a job, any job, that they accept extremely low pay. Older hygienists complain about the hygienists accepting the lower pay and ruining the profession, but the new girls have bills to pay too. The profession of hygiene has gone down the drain because of all the associate schools opening up. It is not a respectable profession.• Hold on to any hygiene job you have because there will be hundreds waiting in line to take it. This is not good for our field because it can make you lower your principles for standard of care if you work for a practice in which patient care is not ideal. You are forced to bite your tongue in some circumstances where you would normally speak up, knowing there is a line of hygienists happy to step in when you walk out.• This area is saturated with hygienists. There are no jobs as there are very few hygienists retiring. I know many hygienists who are unable to find a job practicing dental hygiene.Seattle
Who they were
• 24 responses• 42% have practiced for more than 20 years, and 42% have practiced for six to 20 years.• 50% listed associate’s degrees, and 37% listed bachelor’s degrees as the highest level of completed education.• 74% practice either four or five days a week, and 17% practice three days a week.The pay
• 92% earn an hourly rate.• The average hourly rate for the Seattle metropolitan area is $45.55.• 28% report earning $42 or $43 an hour• 20% reported earning $46 to $47 an hour.• Three respondents reported hourly rates over $50, including the high of $52.The benefits received
• 90% receive health insurance.• 84% receive an employer contribution toward retirement.• 90% receive paid vacation and holidays.• 53% receive paid sick leave.• 16% receive life insurance.• 58% receive dental insurance.• 11% receive disability insurance.• 68% receive CE tuition reimbursement.Interesting comments about Seattle
• Although the practice is healthy in regards to the hygiene schedule being full and profitable, the restorative schedule has slowed considerably over the past 18 months. So the owner/dentist has taken to cutting hygienists' hours, doing some hygiene himself to fill his time and save on expenses of paying hygiene salary. He has always had a knee jerk reaction to local economic climates that affect his schedule, but not hygiene. • With more dental hygiene schools opening, I foresee a trend for fewer jobs available in private practice, but tremendous opportunities for hygienists to practice in alternative practice settings, especially as legislation changes to allow hygienists to do what they are trained and licensed to do without the supervision of a dentist. I foresee more collaborative practice agreements, like we have in Washington State.Philadelphia
Who they were
• 23 responses• The Philadelphia metropolitan area extends across multiple state boundaries. 30% practice in New Jersey; the remainder are from Pennsylvania.• 65% have practiced for more than 20 years.• 74% listed associate’s degrees, and 22% listed bachelor’s degrees as the highest level of completed education.• 61% practice either four or five days a week, and 30% practice three days a week.The pay
• 91% earn an hourly rate.• The average hourly rate for the Philadelphia metropolitan area is $34.84.• The most common rate reported was $35 (22% of total responses)• 70% reported earning $34 to $38 an hour.The benefits received
• 48% receive health insurance.• 38% receive an employer contribution toward retirement.• 86% receive paid vacation and holidays.• 57% receive paid sick leave.• 14% receive life insurance• 29% receive dental insurance.• 14% receive disability insurance.• 52% receive CE tuition reimbursement.Interesting comments about Philadelphia
• Salaries in the Allentown and surrounding Lehigh Valley areas remain lower than the Philadelphia area due to dental hygiene school close by, and there is a huge surplus of hygienists.Washington, D.C.
Who they were
• 23 responses• The District of Columbia metropolitan area extends across multiple state boundaries. No one reported working within the District of Columbia itself. 61% practice in Virginia, and the other 39% practice in Maryland.• 83% have practiced for more than 10 years.• 61% listed associate’s degrees, and 35% listed bachelor’s degrees as the highest level of completed education.• 83% practice either four or five days a week.The pay
• 78% earn an hourly rate.• The average hourly rate for the District of Columbia area is $46.34.• The most common rates reported were $45 and $48 (30% of total responses).• The highest hourly rate was $54, and the lowest was $40.The benefits received
• 53% receive health insurance.• 63% receive an employer contribution toward retirement.• 100% receive paid vacation and holidays.• 42% receive paid sick leave.• 5% receive life insurance• 37% receive dental insurance.• 0% receive disability insurance• 56% receive CE tuition reimbursement.Interesting comments about Washington, D.C.
• Due to the economy, dentists aren't hiring for full time, only part time and no benefits, or they are doing their own hygiene work and not hiring us at all. There are plenty of hygienists in the area; the dentists don't want to hire hygienists due to cost (we are expensive).• Team Placement has been bringing RDHs here from other states and giving them jobs before placing RDHs locally in the jobs. Most practices have not given raises for the last couple of years and are saying that the economy is the reason, although the hygiene schedule is always full.San Diego
Who they were
• 21 responses• 62% have practiced for more than 20 years.• 62% listed bachelor’s degrees, and 29% listed associate’s degrees as the highest level of completed education.• 67% practice either four or five days a week, and 19% practice three days a week.The pay
• 57% reported a daily rate, and 52% reported an hourly rate (respondents were allowed to report income earned from multiple offices, hence the odd percentages).• 18 hourly rates were reported, ranging from $43.75 on the low end to $53 on the high end; the average hourly rate for the San Diego metropolitan area is $47.74.• The most common rate reported was $48 (22% of total responses).• 14 daily rates were reported, ranging from $330 on the low end to $425 on the high end; the average daily rate is $374.• The most common daily rates were $360 and $375, representing 43% of the respondents who reported daily rates.The benefits received
• 43% receive health insurance.• 57% receive an employer contribution toward retirement.• 71% receive paid vacation and holidays.• 36% receive paid sick leave.• 14% receive life insurance.• 43% receive dental insurance.• 14% receive disability insurance• 50% receive CE tuition reimbursement.Interesting comments about San Diego
• I recently moved from Northern California to Southern California because my husband lost his job. It is terrible down here! Way too many hygienists and dentists! Pay is $10 per hour less than North Bay offices.• I feel there are many part-time opportunities for a day here or there. Full-time jobs with benefits are few and far between. We recently had a hygienist leave that had been at her job for 15 years. We had 50 applicants for the position! For the first time, I also notice more employers wanting you to leave early or leave in the middle of the day if your patient does not show. They want you to eat the loss rather than have the loss of income themselves.• As more private schools graduate dental hygienists in the Los Angeles/San Diego areas, good positions for hygienists are becoming harder to find. Saturation is becoming a real problem. Dentists will start using this to their advantage, so all hygienists need to make sure that their patients know their name and have a rapport with them as individuals. They should teach their patients what a professional prophylaxis should be and expect no less than the best. When a dentist feels his hygienist is of great value to the practice, he or she will not replace her for a less expensive young graduate.Tampa-St. Petersburg
Who they were
• 20 responses• 65% have practiced for more than 10 years.• 55% listed bachelor’s degrees, and 40% listed associate’s degrees as the highest level of completed education.• 65% practice either four or five days a week.The pay
• 90% earn an hourly rate.• The average hourly rate for the Tampa metropolitan area is $30.66.• The most common rate reported was $30 (26% of total responses).• However, 42% earned in the $31 to $36 (highest rate reported) range.The benefits received
• 69% receive health insurance.• 50% receive an employer contribution toward retirement.• 94% receive paid vacation and holidays.• 38% receive paid sick leave.• 19% receive life insurance.• 13% receive dental insurance.• 13% receive disability insurance.• 19% receive CE tuition reimbursement.Interesting comments about the Tampa-St. Petersburg area
• Once out of the dental field, it is very hard to become established with another company for work, even if the company is related in some way to the dental field. The infiltration of hygienists has made it difficult to ask for increases because the students coming in are undercutting the hygiene salaries to obtain jobs. Not good for the hygienist who has worked for a long time and is trying to stay competitive with salaries. I’m looking for another career.Boston
Who they were
• 19 responses• Even though the Boston metropolitan area extends across multiple state boundaries, the data below is from respondents in Massachusetts.• 68% have practiced for more than 10 years.• 79% listed associate’s degrees, and 21% listed bachelor’s degrees as the highest level of completed education.• 78% practice either four or five days a week.The pay
• 95% earn an hourly rate.• The average hourly rate for the Boston metropolitan area is $39.25.• The most common rate reported was $40 (15% of total responses).• 30% earn $38 to $39.85 an hour; however, an additional 30% earn $41 to $46.50 an hour (the latter being the highest rate reported).The benefits received
• 78% receive health insurance.• 67% receive an employer contribution toward retirement.• 83% receive paid vacation and holidays.• 50% receive paid sick leave.• 22% receive life insurance• 39% receive dental insurance.• 22% receive disability insurance.• 78% receive CE tuition reimbursement.Interesting comments about Boston
• I had a job one day a week at another dental office, which I lost in May 2009 due to a reduction in staff (holes in the doctor’s schedule). I haven't been able to find another job since. I work for a temp agency and fill in here and there for previous offices where I used to work, but those jobs are infrequent. I often talk to hygienists who are looking for more hours.Kansas City
Who they were
• 15 responses• Kansas City sits on the Kansas and Missouri border. Eight respondents were from Kansas, and seven were from Missouri• 67% have practiced for more than 10 years.• 67% listed associate’s degrees, and 20% listed bachelor’s degrees as the highest level of completed education.• 71% practice either four or five days a week.The pay
• 73% earn an hourly rate.• The average hourly rate for the Kansas City metropolitan area is $34.93.• 26% earn between $36.50 and $37.50.• 33% reported earning either $30 or $32 an hour.The benefits received
• 67% receive health insurance.• 67% receive an employer contribution toward retirement.• 100% receive paid vacation and holidays.• 33% receive paid sick leave.• 25% receive life insurance.• 25% receive dental insurance.• 25% receive disability insurance.• 58% receive CE tuition reimbursement.Interesting comments about Kansas City
• In our state, we have scaling assistants and we are finding it very hard to get jobs. I am currently employed on Friday. The other days I have to find fill-in work. The job was advertised on Craig’s List for 48 hours and 55 RDHs applied. I felt very lucky to get the job.• I live in Johnson County in Kansas. It is my perception that this area is sort of in a bubble when it comes to the bad economy ... not necessarily because people aren't affected, but because they don't show it. They continue to "live like they're rich" even if they aren't.• Another dental hygiene training "school" has opened locally. Over the past two years, I have noticed a significant $10/hour decrease in salaries. I am gravely concerned about the quality of hygienists coming out of this new program. We already have two excellent colleges with dental hygiene curriculums. In my many years in dental hygiene, I have never seen the job market so poor. The past eight months I have been looking for a permanent position with no luck, so I continue to provide temping services. At a recent interview I was told by the dentist, "I feel so sorry for ladies with the years of experience you have because you haven't been paid this in five years." I corrected her that it's been 20 years since I worked for that. I don't see dental fees reducing, yet hygienists are expected to accept ever lower wages.Indianapolis
Who they were
• 14 responses• 86% have practiced for more than 20 years.• 57% listed associate’s degrees, and 21% listed bachelor’s degrees as the highest level of completed education.• 50% practice either four or five days a week.The pay
• 71% earn an hourly rate.• The average hourly rate for the Indianapolis area is $34.92.• The hourly rates ranged from $38 on the high end to a low of $29.The benefits received
• 25% receive health insurance.• 75% receive an employer contribution toward retirement.• 75% receive paid vacation and holidays.• 33% receive paid sick leave• 25% receive life insurance.• 25% receive dental insurance.• 0% receive disability insurance.• 42% receive CE tuition reimbursement.Interesting comments about Indianapolis
• I have taken a $5 an hour pay cut over the last three years, and I have not been able to find regular employment since being laid off at that time. They started offering a dental hygiene program at a trade school in my area that I feel has caused our already saturated market to feel cheapened, and it is even more difficult to find desirable employers. Dentists are letting go of the seasoned hygienists just to hire cheaper ones. I'm not sure this is a good trade off.Houston
Who they were
• 13 responses• 62% have practiced for more than 20 years.• 54% listed associate’s degrees, and 46% listed bachelor’s degrees as the highest level of completed education.• 50% practice four days a week, and 33% practice three days a week.The pay
• 54% earn an hourly rate.• The hourly rates reported were $34, $35, $36 (twice), $38 (twice), $37 (twice), and $39.The benefits received
• 36% receive health insurance.• 55% receive an employer contribution toward retirement.• 91% receive paid vacation and holidays• 36% receive paid sick leave.• 0% receive life insurance.• 18% receive dental insurance.• 0% receive disability insurance.• 73% receive CE tuition reimbursement.Interesting comments about Houston
• Benefits are rare in our area.Minneapolis
Who they were
• 13 responses• 77% have practiced for more than 10 years.• 62% listed associate’s degrees, and 39% listed bachelor’s degrees as the highest level of completed education.• 85% practice four or five days a week.The pay
• 69% earn an hourly rate.• The hourly rates reported were $29, $30 (twice), $31.85, $32, $32.23, $33, $33.75, $36, $38.50. The benefits received
• 62% receive health insurance.• 62% receive an employer contribution toward retirement.• 92% receive paid vacation and holidays.• 69% receive paid sick leave.• 39% receive life insurance• 39% receive dental insurance.• 15% receive disability insurance.• 46% receive CE tuition reimbursement.Interesting comments about the Minneapolis area
• I know RDHs are getting hired for less dollars in my area. I know if I changed jobs, I wouldn't make what I am at this time.Baltimore
Who they were
• 12 responses• 58% have practiced for more than 10 years.• 42% listed bachelor’s degrees, and 33% listed associate’s degrees as the highest level of completed education.• 83% practice four or five days a week.The pay
• 67% earn an hourly rate.• The hourly rates reported were $40 (three times), $41, $42 (twice), $43 (twice), $45, $50.The benefits received
• 64% receive health insurance.• 73% receive an employer contribution toward retirement.• 91% receive paid vacation and holidays.• 64% receive paid sick leave.• 18% receive life insurance.• 27% receive dental insurance.• 18% receive disability insurance.• 36% receive CE tuition reimbursement.Pittsburgh
Who they were
• 12 responses• 58% have practiced for more than 20 years.• 33% listed bachelor’s degrees, and 25% listed associate’s degrees as the highest level of completed education.• 67% practice four or five days a week.The pay
• 92% earn an hourly rate.• The hourly rates reported were $17.28, $23, $26, $27, $27.50 (twice), $28 (four times), $29.35, $30 (twice), and $33.The benefits received
• 67% receive health insurance.• 17% receive an employer contribution toward retirement.• 67% receive paid vacation and holidays.• 33% receive paid sick leave.• 50% receive life insurance.• 33% receive dental insurance.• 67% receive disability insurance.• 50% receive CE tuition reimbursement.Interesting comments about Pittsburgh
• I'm a recent graduate, and I've worked in one office for almost a year. Since I work in an area with several hygiene schools, my wage is lower than a lot of hygienists elsewhere. I'm not in a position to move and I'm not sure when it'll be appropriate to ask for a raise.Austin
Who they were
• Nine responses• 78% have practiced for more than 10 years.• 56% listed bachelor’s degrees, and 33% listed associate’s degrees as the highest level of completed education.• 75% practice four or five days a week.The pay
• 78% earn an hourly rate.• The hourly rates reported were $33, $34, $37.50, $38 (twice), $39, $40 (twice), $41, and $42.The benefits received
• 56% receive health insurance.• 56% receive an employer contribution toward retirement.• 78% receive paid vacation and holidays.• 44% receive paid sick leave.• 11% receive life insurance.• 22% receive dental insurance.• 11% receive disability insurance.• 33% receive CE tuition reimbursement.Interesting comments about Austin
• I worked in the St. Louis area from 2008 to 2009 and found the demand for hygienists was pretty low as the market there is saturated with hygienists. I worked three part-time jobs just to make full-time hours, and even then the pay was poor and benefits were hard to come by. Had I filled out this survey then, my answers would have been very different. Interestingly enough, had I answered this survey when I worked in the Houston area from 2006 to 2008, my answers would be very similar to this year’s. I moved back to Texas from Missouri in order to find good work and good pay once again! And now I’m happy once again with my career as an RDH.• The hygiene department is just as productive as in the past, but due to the drop in doctor production, hygiene revenue that was once shared with the hygienist is now used to pay other operating expenses. This is a bitter pill as I am working harder and longer while the dentists appear to be maintaining their lifestyles. They work three days a week, have multiple homes, and take multiple vacations. They have a Cadillac health insurance plan that most employees cannot afford to participate in. • Hourly rates have remained stable but hygienists in my area are slowly losing their benefits. • I received a 20% pay cut last year due to the economy and was cut from five days a week to four days. There is talk of more cuts to come. It’s a very stressful situation due to the economy.Miami
Who they were• Nine responses• 78% have practiced for more than 10 years.• 56% listed associate’s degrees, and 11% listed bachelor’s degrees as the highest level of completed education.• 63% practice four or five days a week.The pay
• 89% earn an hourly rate.• The hourly rates reported were $20, $25, $30 (four times), $30.50, $32, $34, $37.25 and $43.50.The benefits received
• Not available; only three respondents answered the question.Interesting comments about Miami
• As a hygienist, I feel insecure that, because of the economy, my job can be replaced by either the dentist or the assistants. Dentists pay their assistants half of what hygienists make, then have the assistants do cleanings and the patients have no idea. Incredible!• I have not had a raise in four years. When the economy turned sour, I was working four days a week, had two weeks paid vacation, paid holidays, $150 uniform allowance, and one week paid sick pay. All gone. I lost whole days or half days if they weren't full. We were a fee-for-service practice, and we now are on nine plans. Things have picked up a little, but I don't know if it’s the economy or the plans. We are working harder and making less. I have subbed as a teacher, but there are not hygiene jobs as foreign dentists have taken any opportunities in our state.San Antonio
Who they were
• Seven responses• 86% have practiced for more than 10 years.• 43% listed bachelor’s degrees, and 14% listed associate’s degrees as the highest level of completed education.• 67% practice four or five days a week.The pay
• 89% earn an hourly rate.• The hourly rates reported were $35, $39, and $40. Two daily rates of $231 and $240 were also reported.The benefits received
• 50% receive health insurance.• 67% receive an employer contribution toward retirement.• 100% receive paid vacation and holidays.• 100% receive paid sick leave.• 33% receive life insurance.• 17% receive dental insurance.• 33% receive disability insurance.• 83% receive CE tuition reimbursement.
Who they were• 62 responses• 53% have practiced for more than 20 years, and 31% have practiced 10 to 20 years.• 60% listed associate’s degrees, and 31% listed bachelor’s degrees as the highest level of completed education.• 66% practice either four or five days a week, and 22% practice three days a week.The pay
• 87% earn an hourly rate.• The average hourly rate for the Chicago metropolitan area is $37.46.• The most common rates reported were $38 (18% of all respondents), $35 (13%), $40 (13%), and $39 (9%).• Five of the 67 hourly rates reported were above $44.The benefits received
• 43% receive health insurance.• 51% receive an employer contribution toward retirement.• 83% receive paid vacation and holidays.• 28% receive paid sick leave.• 11% receive life insurance.• 28% receive dental insurance.• 6% receive disability insurance.• 51% receive CE tuition reimbursement.Interesting comments about Chicago
• I wouldn't say that it is extremely difficult to find a dental hygiene job in Chicago, but it is somewhat difficult. I see more hygienists piecing together a job with one day in this office, one day in that office. That's how it was when I graduated in 1978. So things are going backwards somewhat. There are 13 dental hygiene schools in Illinois, and I think they are just graduating too many hygienists. Consequently, salaries are going down. I am fortunate to be full time in one office.• Number of hygienist jobs listed in the last 30 days in the greater Chicagoland area = 10; number of assistant jobs listed in the last 30 days in the same area = 143; number of resumes the last dentist I interviewed with received in only two days = 100; number of hygienists she interviewed = 20; and I was NOT hired. The person who runs the temp agency I work out of (when they have something) tells me she has started to get permanent job openings that offer $5 to $10 an hour less than what was offered a year ago. Many assistants I know now are expanded function. In Illinois, expanded function assistants can do coronal polishing and apply sealants. The doctors are having them do coronal polishing and sealants on children, calling the polishing a "prophy" and billing both services the same way as when a hygienist did them. One is doing "prophys" on "children" up to 18 years of age! I know a hygienist whose practice cut her hours from 28 to 12 a week, and she says the associate dentist in her office has taken over all the SRPs since her crown and bridgework has dried up. Three guesses as to where the hygienist jobs have gone. And the first two don't count.San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose
Who they were
• 40 responses• 70% have practiced for more than 10 years.• 55% listed associate’s degrees, and 35% listed bachelor’s degrees as the highest level of completed education.• 50% practice either four or five days a week, and 38% practice two or three days a week.The pay
• 63% earn a daily rate.• The average daily rate for this northern California metropolitan area is $452.• The most common rates reported were $425 a day (17% of the respondents), $400 (11%), and $450 (11%).• 20% of the 35 daily rates reported were above $500, including the highest rate reported of $534.• 19 hourly rates were reported; the average hourly rate is $53.67• 84% reported earning $50 or more an hour, including the highest rate of $65.• The most common hourly rate was $55 (26% of all respondents) The benefits received
• 38% receive health insurance.• 52% receive an employer contribution toward retirement.• 62% receive paid vacation and holidays.• 35% receive paid sick leave.• 3% receive life insurance.• 24% receive dental insurance.• 7% receive disability insurance.• 62% receive CE tuition reimbursement.Interesting comments about the San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose area
• There are too many dental hygiene schools in my area, so the area is flooded with tons of new grad dental hygienists. There are hundreds of applications for one position. It takes about six months or more to find work, and new grads must be willing to take a 30% cut in pay. The dental hygiene market is a mess. It is harder for older hygienists to find work.• There are too many RDH schools and not enough jobs. Some schools are accepting applicants without requiring general education. Employers are noticing these students aren't the most marketable, but perhaps the cheapest employees.• I am very happy with my current status (days worked) and feel fortunate to be employed in this economy. My office has slowed down, but so far there has been no significant decrease in hygiene hours. But our schedules are not full each day. Our area has been hit fairly hard by recent economic times and patients are very dentally motivated by insurance coverage.• New grads are really struggling to find jobs, and it is the same with RN new grads. Schools for both careers have greatly expanded, creating an excess supply, and this will continue for many years.• There is a influx of RDHs in this area. There are a lot of inquiries at the office from subs trying to work while looking for permanent employment. The downturn of the economy makes it even harder for them.Los Angeles
Who they were
• 39 responses• 51% have practiced for more than 20 years; 36% have practiced six to 20 years.• 54% listed bachelor’s degrees, and 36% listed associate’s degrees as the highest level of completed education.• 44% practice either four or five days a week, and 33% practice three days a week.The pay
• 80% earn a daily rate.• The average daily rate for the Los Angeles metropolitan area is $395.• The most common rate reported was $400 a day (25% of the respondents).• Three of the 36 daily rates reported were above $475.• 25% reported earning $350, $360, or $375 a day.The benefits received
• 53% receive health insurance.• 74% receive an employer contribution toward retirement.• 68% receive paid vacation and holidays.• 37% receive paid sick leave.• 16% receive life insurance.• 21% receive dental insurance.• 11% receive disability insurance.• 53% receive CE tuition reimbursement.Interesting comments about Los Angeles
• I have worked in dentistry for over 30 years, and my husband works in an industry that directly involves him with dentists. Our opinion is that most dentists seem to be very resentful about the salaries they pay their hygienists. Because of my salary, my employer doesn’t feel I deserve any benefits even though I've been with him for 25 years. It’s my own fault for staying, but I'm thankful to have a job with this economy. There are very few employment opportunities in Orange County.• In the Southern California area, salaries have dropped dramatically, and a lot of dentists are looking for hygienists with experience. It is very difficult for new grads to find a job. It is sad how overpopulated it is here with dentists and hygienists.• Too many dental hygiene schools are opening and flooding the market. In my opinion, this is going to have a negative impact on pay scales. I see the trend happening already.• Benefits and some type of retirement should be provided to hygienists, or least they should be offered as an option in lieu of a salary increase. Also, many hygienists are single parents.Phoenix
Who they were
• 38 responses• 42% have practiced for more than 20 years; 40% have practiced six to 20 years.• 66% listed bachelor’s degrees, and 32% listed associate’s degrees as the highest level of completed education.• 57% practice either four or five days a week, and 27% practice three days a week.The pay
• 79% earn an hourly rate.• The average hourly rate for the Phoenix metropolitan area is $40.14.• The most common rate reported was $40 (31% of the respondents).• 31% reported earning $41 to $45 an hour. • 22% reported earning either $38 or $39 an hour.The benefits received
• 34% receive health insurance.• 50% receive an employer contribution toward retirement.• 81% receive paid vacation and holidays.• 28% receive paid sick leave.• 13% receive life insurance.• 22% receive dental insurance.• 3% receive disability insurance.• 47% receive CE tuition reimbursement.Interesting comments about Phoenix
• There are several more community colleges turning out less qualified hygienists than when I graduated 31 years ago. The requirements are less stringent. It had been a great career up until the last 10 years. I’m glad I’m looking at retirement rather than starting this career.• The lack of salary increases is just the beginning of complications in the dental profession in my area. Not only did the number of available positions in all levels of the dental profession fall astronomically, but let’s mention how many new dental and dental hygiene schools just opened throughout the state in the last two years. There is now a huge surplus of all dental professionals, a very high rate of unemployment, and dentists filing bankruptcy/closing down their practices permanently. The opportunities continue to decrease with no chances of improvement anywhere in sight.New York City
Who they were
• 38 responses• The New York City metropolitan area extends across multiple state boundaries. 34% practice in New Jersey; 3% practice in Connecticut; and the remainder practice in New York.• 63% have practiced for more than 20 years.• 65% listed associate’s degrees, and 30% listed bachelor’s degrees as the highest level of completed education.• 51% practice either four or five days a week, and 40% practice three days a week.The pay
• 90% earn an hourly rate.• The average hourly rate for the New York City metropolitan area is $40.53• The most common rates reported were $35 and $40. The two rates comprised 36% of the respondents.• Three of the 39 hourly rates reported were above $50.• 18% reported earning $37 or $38 an hour.• 24% reported earning $41 to $45 an hour.The benefits received
• 52% receive health insurance.• 44% receive an employer contribution toward retirement.• 78% receive paid vacation and holidays.• 52% receive paid sick leave.• 7% receive life insurance.• 19% receive dental insurance• 15% receive disability insurance.• 56% receive CE tuition reimbursement.Interesting comments about New York City
• Salaries in the New York metropolitan area depend on years of experience, location, and type of office where you are working. Some hygienists’ salaries also depend on how many cases they can sell for the month.• The practice I work in is making money. The doctor puts himself before the rest of the staff, making us wait for a paycheck while he pays himself. He is using the economy to bully his staff!• There are too many hygiene programs for the number of hygienists needed today. It is a matter of supply and demand. We need fewer graduates and programs until there is a greater demand for hygienists. Until this is done, many hygienists will find it very difficult to secure employment.Dallas-Fort Worth
Who they were
• 36 responses• 66% have practiced for more than 20 years.• 50% listed associate’s degrees, and 42% listed bachelor’s degrees as the highest level of completed education.• 71% practice either four or five days a week.The pay
• 75% earn an hourly rate.• The average hourly rate for the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area is $36.12.• The most common rates reported were $35 and $36. The two rates comprised 39% of the respondents.• Overall, 68% of the reported hourly rates were between $34 and $38.The benefits received
• 26% receive health insurance.• 55% receive an employer contribution toward retirement.• 81% receive paid vacation and holidays.• 45% receive paid sick leave.• 19% receive life insurance.• 26% receive dental insurance.• 16% receive disability insurance.• 45% receive CE tuition reimbursement.Interesting comments about Dallas
• The climate for hygiene is grim and will only get worse in Texas due to three for-profit hygiene schools opening in the next one to two years. At that point the job market will totally dry up and salaries will be in the trash.• Temp agencies are not getting requests. Everyone seems to be holding on to their positions and not taking time off.Detroit
Who they were
• 34 responses• 85% have practiced for more than 10 years.• 47% listed associate’s degrees, and 44% listed bachelor’s degrees as the highest level of completed education.• 39% practice three days a week, and 36% practice either four or five days a week.The pay
• 94% earn an hourly rate.• The average hourly rate for the Detroit metropolitan area is $31.11.• The most common rates reported were $32 (16% of all respondents), $28 (13%), $30 (13%), and $31 (11%).• 29% earn $33 to $36 an hour (the latter was the highest rate reported).The benefits received
• 31% receive health insurance.• 38% receive an employer contribution toward retirement.• 76% receive paid vacation and holidays.• 14% receive paid sick leave.• 10% receive life insurance.• 14% receive dental insurance• 7% receive disability insurance.• 45% receive CE tuition reimbursement.Interesting comments about Detroit
• I have worked for one practice for six years. I have never received a raise. Because I would not take a $7 pay cut, my hours were slashed. My employer believes hygienists are overpaid and thinks they will work for $20 an hour due to the economy. Unfortunately, new grads are accepting low pay due to the economy• Economy is a big issue in this area; there is extreme unemployment.• Raises are nonexistent, and with a surplus of hygienists the doctors will just find another to replace you if you complain.• I know of some offices that made their hygienists take a 10% pay cut.Denver
Who they were
• 31 responses• 52% have practiced for more than 20 years.• 48% listed bachelor’s degrees, and 42% listed associate’s degrees as the highest level of completed education.• 62% practice either four or five days a week, and 21% practice three days a week.The pay
• 87% earn an hourly rate.• The average hourly rate for the Denver metropolitan area is $39.42.• The most common rates reported were $40 (15% of all respondents), $38 (12%), and $42 (12%).• Overall, the hourly rates ranged from a high of $45 to a low of $29.The benefits received
• 67% receive health insurance.• 70% receive an employer contribution toward retirement.• 85% receive paid vacation and holidays.• 33% receive paid sick leave.• 19% receive life insurance.• 26% receive dental insurance.• 11% receive disability insurance• 48% receive CE tuition reimbursement.Interesting comments about Denver
• It’s very hard to find a job, there is an overabundance of hygienists, and my age is against me.• There seems to be a trend in which offices prefer to pay a low hourly or daily rate accompanied by a commission.• There has been a slow down on hourly rate increases.• Fees are being raised for the patients, but as employees we rarely see an increase in our salaries.Atlanta
Who they were
• 30 responses• 40% have practiced for more than 20 years, and 33% have practiced for six to 10 years.• 53% listed associate’s degrees, and 43% listed bachelor’s degrees as the highest level of completed education.• 66% practice either four or five days a week, and 28% practice three days a week.The pay
• 77% earn an hourly rate.• The average hourly rate for the Atlanta metropolitan area is $37.02.• The most common rate reported was $35, comprising 17% of the respondents.• 26% earn $40 an hour or more.The benefits received
• 41% receive health insurance.• 59% receive an employer contribution toward retirement.• 90% receive paid vacation and holidays.• 45% receive paid sick leave.• 3% receive life insurance.• 28% receive dental insurance.• 7% receive disability insurance.• 48% receive CE tuition reimbursement.Interesting comments about Atlanta
• The market in my area is saturated. Along with this problem and the economy, my employer knows I am stuck. I have taken two pay cuts in the last year to keep my job.• Our area is really being hit by the bad economy; jobs in this field are scarce. Many patients are losing their jobs, thus their insurance. I see I may be laid off in the future due to the economy.• Even though I am making the same salary, there have been cuts in the quality of products we use. The practice has even cut out dispensing items like floss or toothbrushes. I am thankful for the job but would still like to be able to treat patients the same quality service.St. Louis
Who they were
• 29 responses• All but two responses (Illinois) came from the Missouri side of the city. • 72% have practiced for more than 20 years.• 76% listed associate’s degrees, and 10% listed bachelor’s degrees as the highest level of completed education.• 75% practice either four or five days a week, and 11% practice three days a week.The pay
• 79% earn an hourly rate.• The average hourly rate for the St. Louis metropolitan area is $32.73.• The most common rates reported were $32 (comprising 21% of the respondents), $33 (21%), and $34 (17%).• $40 was the highest hourly rate reported, and $29 was the lowest.The benefits received
• 35% receive health insurance.• 54% receive an employer contribution toward retirement.• 85% receive paid vacation and holidays.• 35% receive paid sick leave.• 12% receive life insurance.• 27% receive dental insurance.• 12% receive disability insurance.• 50% receive CE tuition reimbursement.Interesting comments about St. Louis
• There are absolutely no jobs in the St. Louis area. There are three schools in the area that crank out very poorly trained associate level hygienists. Salaries keep getting lower because hygienists are so desperate for a job, any job, that they accept extremely low pay. Older hygienists complain about the hygienists accepting the lower pay and ruining the profession, but the new girls have bills to pay too. The profession of hygiene has gone down the drain because of all the associate schools opening up. It is not a respectable profession.• Hold on to any hygiene job you have because there will be hundreds waiting in line to take it. This is not good for our field because it can make you lower your principles for standard of care if you work for a practice in which patient care is not ideal. You are forced to bite your tongue in some circumstances where you would normally speak up, knowing there is a line of hygienists happy to step in when you walk out.• This area is saturated with hygienists. There are no jobs as there are very few hygienists retiring. I know many hygienists who are unable to find a job practicing dental hygiene.Seattle
Who they were
• 24 responses• 42% have practiced for more than 20 years, and 42% have practiced for six to 20 years.• 50% listed associate’s degrees, and 37% listed bachelor’s degrees as the highest level of completed education.• 74% practice either four or five days a week, and 17% practice three days a week.The pay
• 92% earn an hourly rate.• The average hourly rate for the Seattle metropolitan area is $45.55.• 28% report earning $42 or $43 an hour• 20% reported earning $46 to $47 an hour.• Three respondents reported hourly rates over $50, including the high of $52.The benefits received
• 90% receive health insurance.• 84% receive an employer contribution toward retirement.• 90% receive paid vacation and holidays.• 53% receive paid sick leave.• 16% receive life insurance.• 58% receive dental insurance.• 11% receive disability insurance.• 68% receive CE tuition reimbursement.Interesting comments about Seattle
• Although the practice is healthy in regards to the hygiene schedule being full and profitable, the restorative schedule has slowed considerably over the past 18 months. So the owner/dentist has taken to cutting hygienists' hours, doing some hygiene himself to fill his time and save on expenses of paying hygiene salary. He has always had a knee jerk reaction to local economic climates that affect his schedule, but not hygiene. • With more dental hygiene schools opening, I foresee a trend for fewer jobs available in private practice, but tremendous opportunities for hygienists to practice in alternative practice settings, especially as legislation changes to allow hygienists to do what they are trained and licensed to do without the supervision of a dentist. I foresee more collaborative practice agreements, like we have in Washington State.Philadelphia
Who they were
• 23 responses• The Philadelphia metropolitan area extends across multiple state boundaries. 30% practice in New Jersey; the remainder are from Pennsylvania.• 65% have practiced for more than 20 years.• 74% listed associate’s degrees, and 22% listed bachelor’s degrees as the highest level of completed education.• 61% practice either four or five days a week, and 30% practice three days a week.The pay
• 91% earn an hourly rate.• The average hourly rate for the Philadelphia metropolitan area is $34.84.• The most common rate reported was $35 (22% of total responses)• 70% reported earning $34 to $38 an hour.The benefits received
• 48% receive health insurance.• 38% receive an employer contribution toward retirement.• 86% receive paid vacation and holidays.• 57% receive paid sick leave.• 14% receive life insurance• 29% receive dental insurance.• 14% receive disability insurance.• 52% receive CE tuition reimbursement.Interesting comments about Philadelphia
• Salaries in the Allentown and surrounding Lehigh Valley areas remain lower than the Philadelphia area due to dental hygiene school close by, and there is a huge surplus of hygienists.Washington, D.C.
Who they were
• 23 responses• The District of Columbia metropolitan area extends across multiple state boundaries. No one reported working within the District of Columbia itself. 61% practice in Virginia, and the other 39% practice in Maryland.• 83% have practiced for more than 10 years.• 61% listed associate’s degrees, and 35% listed bachelor’s degrees as the highest level of completed education.• 83% practice either four or five days a week.The pay
• 78% earn an hourly rate.• The average hourly rate for the District of Columbia area is $46.34.• The most common rates reported were $45 and $48 (30% of total responses).• The highest hourly rate was $54, and the lowest was $40.The benefits received
• 53% receive health insurance.• 63% receive an employer contribution toward retirement.• 100% receive paid vacation and holidays.• 42% receive paid sick leave.• 5% receive life insurance• 37% receive dental insurance.• 0% receive disability insurance• 56% receive CE tuition reimbursement.Interesting comments about Washington, D.C.
• Due to the economy, dentists aren't hiring for full time, only part time and no benefits, or they are doing their own hygiene work and not hiring us at all. There are plenty of hygienists in the area; the dentists don't want to hire hygienists due to cost (we are expensive).• Team Placement has been bringing RDHs here from other states and giving them jobs before placing RDHs locally in the jobs. Most practices have not given raises for the last couple of years and are saying that the economy is the reason, although the hygiene schedule is always full.San Diego
Who they were
• 21 responses• 62% have practiced for more than 20 years.• 62% listed bachelor’s degrees, and 29% listed associate’s degrees as the highest level of completed education.• 67% practice either four or five days a week, and 19% practice three days a week.The pay
• 57% reported a daily rate, and 52% reported an hourly rate (respondents were allowed to report income earned from multiple offices, hence the odd percentages).• 18 hourly rates were reported, ranging from $43.75 on the low end to $53 on the high end; the average hourly rate for the San Diego metropolitan area is $47.74.• The most common rate reported was $48 (22% of total responses).• 14 daily rates were reported, ranging from $330 on the low end to $425 on the high end; the average daily rate is $374.• The most common daily rates were $360 and $375, representing 43% of the respondents who reported daily rates.The benefits received
• 43% receive health insurance.• 57% receive an employer contribution toward retirement.• 71% receive paid vacation and holidays.• 36% receive paid sick leave.• 14% receive life insurance.• 43% receive dental insurance.• 14% receive disability insurance• 50% receive CE tuition reimbursement.Interesting comments about San Diego
• I recently moved from Northern California to Southern California because my husband lost his job. It is terrible down here! Way too many hygienists and dentists! Pay is $10 per hour less than North Bay offices.• I feel there are many part-time opportunities for a day here or there. Full-time jobs with benefits are few and far between. We recently had a hygienist leave that had been at her job for 15 years. We had 50 applicants for the position! For the first time, I also notice more employers wanting you to leave early or leave in the middle of the day if your patient does not show. They want you to eat the loss rather than have the loss of income themselves.• As more private schools graduate dental hygienists in the Los Angeles/San Diego areas, good positions for hygienists are becoming harder to find. Saturation is becoming a real problem. Dentists will start using this to their advantage, so all hygienists need to make sure that their patients know their name and have a rapport with them as individuals. They should teach their patients what a professional prophylaxis should be and expect no less than the best. When a dentist feels his hygienist is of great value to the practice, he or she will not replace her for a less expensive young graduate.Tampa-St. Petersburg
Who they were
• 20 responses• 65% have practiced for more than 10 years.• 55% listed bachelor’s degrees, and 40% listed associate’s degrees as the highest level of completed education.• 65% practice either four or five days a week.The pay
• 90% earn an hourly rate.• The average hourly rate for the Tampa metropolitan area is $30.66.• The most common rate reported was $30 (26% of total responses).• However, 42% earned in the $31 to $36 (highest rate reported) range.The benefits received
• 69% receive health insurance.• 50% receive an employer contribution toward retirement.• 94% receive paid vacation and holidays.• 38% receive paid sick leave.• 19% receive life insurance.• 13% receive dental insurance.• 13% receive disability insurance.• 19% receive CE tuition reimbursement.Interesting comments about the Tampa-St. Petersburg area
• Once out of the dental field, it is very hard to become established with another company for work, even if the company is related in some way to the dental field. The infiltration of hygienists has made it difficult to ask for increases because the students coming in are undercutting the hygiene salaries to obtain jobs. Not good for the hygienist who has worked for a long time and is trying to stay competitive with salaries. I’m looking for another career.Boston
Who they were
• 19 responses• Even though the Boston metropolitan area extends across multiple state boundaries, the data below is from respondents in Massachusetts.• 68% have practiced for more than 10 years.• 79% listed associate’s degrees, and 21% listed bachelor’s degrees as the highest level of completed education.• 78% practice either four or five days a week.The pay
• 95% earn an hourly rate.• The average hourly rate for the Boston metropolitan area is $39.25.• The most common rate reported was $40 (15% of total responses).• 30% earn $38 to $39.85 an hour; however, an additional 30% earn $41 to $46.50 an hour (the latter being the highest rate reported).The benefits received
• 78% receive health insurance.• 67% receive an employer contribution toward retirement.• 83% receive paid vacation and holidays.• 50% receive paid sick leave.• 22% receive life insurance• 39% receive dental insurance.• 22% receive disability insurance.• 78% receive CE tuition reimbursement.Interesting comments about Boston
• I had a job one day a week at another dental office, which I lost in May 2009 due to a reduction in staff (holes in the doctor’s schedule). I haven't been able to find another job since. I work for a temp agency and fill in here and there for previous offices where I used to work, but those jobs are infrequent. I often talk to hygienists who are looking for more hours.Kansas City
Who they were
• 15 responses• Kansas City sits on the Kansas and Missouri border. Eight respondents were from Kansas, and seven were from Missouri• 67% have practiced for more than 10 years.• 67% listed associate’s degrees, and 20% listed bachelor’s degrees as the highest level of completed education.• 71% practice either four or five days a week.The pay
• 73% earn an hourly rate.• The average hourly rate for the Kansas City metropolitan area is $34.93.• 26% earn between $36.50 and $37.50.• 33% reported earning either $30 or $32 an hour.The benefits received
• 67% receive health insurance.• 67% receive an employer contribution toward retirement.• 100% receive paid vacation and holidays.• 33% receive paid sick leave.• 25% receive life insurance.• 25% receive dental insurance.• 25% receive disability insurance.• 58% receive CE tuition reimbursement.Interesting comments about Kansas City
• In our state, we have scaling assistants and we are finding it very hard to get jobs. I am currently employed on Friday. The other days I have to find fill-in work. The job was advertised on Craig’s List for 48 hours and 55 RDHs applied. I felt very lucky to get the job.• I live in Johnson County in Kansas. It is my perception that this area is sort of in a bubble when it comes to the bad economy ... not necessarily because people aren't affected, but because they don't show it. They continue to "live like they're rich" even if they aren't.• Another dental hygiene training "school" has opened locally. Over the past two years, I have noticed a significant $10/hour decrease in salaries. I am gravely concerned about the quality of hygienists coming out of this new program. We already have two excellent colleges with dental hygiene curriculums. In my many years in dental hygiene, I have never seen the job market so poor. The past eight months I have been looking for a permanent position with no luck, so I continue to provide temping services. At a recent interview I was told by the dentist, "I feel so sorry for ladies with the years of experience you have because you haven't been paid this in five years." I corrected her that it's been 20 years since I worked for that. I don't see dental fees reducing, yet hygienists are expected to accept ever lower wages.Indianapolis
Who they were
• 14 responses• 86% have practiced for more than 20 years.• 57% listed associate’s degrees, and 21% listed bachelor’s degrees as the highest level of completed education.• 50% practice either four or five days a week.The pay
• 71% earn an hourly rate.• The average hourly rate for the Indianapolis area is $34.92.• The hourly rates ranged from $38 on the high end to a low of $29.The benefits received
• 25% receive health insurance.• 75% receive an employer contribution toward retirement.• 75% receive paid vacation and holidays.• 33% receive paid sick leave• 25% receive life insurance.• 25% receive dental insurance.• 0% receive disability insurance.• 42% receive CE tuition reimbursement.Interesting comments about Indianapolis
• I have taken a $5 an hour pay cut over the last three years, and I have not been able to find regular employment since being laid off at that time. They started offering a dental hygiene program at a trade school in my area that I feel has caused our already saturated market to feel cheapened, and it is even more difficult to find desirable employers. Dentists are letting go of the seasoned hygienists just to hire cheaper ones. I'm not sure this is a good trade off.Houston
Who they were
• 13 responses• 62% have practiced for more than 20 years.• 54% listed associate’s degrees, and 46% listed bachelor’s degrees as the highest level of completed education.• 50% practice four days a week, and 33% practice three days a week.The pay
• 54% earn an hourly rate.• The hourly rates reported were $34, $35, $36 (twice), $38 (twice), $37 (twice), and $39.The benefits received
• 36% receive health insurance.• 55% receive an employer contribution toward retirement.• 91% receive paid vacation and holidays• 36% receive paid sick leave.• 0% receive life insurance.• 18% receive dental insurance.• 0% receive disability insurance.• 73% receive CE tuition reimbursement.Interesting comments about Houston
• Benefits are rare in our area.Minneapolis
Who they were
• 13 responses• 77% have practiced for more than 10 years.• 62% listed associate’s degrees, and 39% listed bachelor’s degrees as the highest level of completed education.• 85% practice four or five days a week.The pay
• 69% earn an hourly rate.• The hourly rates reported were $29, $30 (twice), $31.85, $32, $32.23, $33, $33.75, $36, $38.50. The benefits received
• 62% receive health insurance.• 62% receive an employer contribution toward retirement.• 92% receive paid vacation and holidays.• 69% receive paid sick leave.• 39% receive life insurance• 39% receive dental insurance.• 15% receive disability insurance.• 46% receive CE tuition reimbursement.Interesting comments about the Minneapolis area
• I know RDHs are getting hired for less dollars in my area. I know if I changed jobs, I wouldn't make what I am at this time.Baltimore
Who they were
• 12 responses• 58% have practiced for more than 10 years.• 42% listed bachelor’s degrees, and 33% listed associate’s degrees as the highest level of completed education.• 83% practice four or five days a week.The pay
• 67% earn an hourly rate.• The hourly rates reported were $40 (three times), $41, $42 (twice), $43 (twice), $45, $50.The benefits received
• 64% receive health insurance.• 73% receive an employer contribution toward retirement.• 91% receive paid vacation and holidays.• 64% receive paid sick leave.• 18% receive life insurance.• 27% receive dental insurance.• 18% receive disability insurance.• 36% receive CE tuition reimbursement.Pittsburgh
Who they were
• 12 responses• 58% have practiced for more than 20 years.• 33% listed bachelor’s degrees, and 25% listed associate’s degrees as the highest level of completed education.• 67% practice four or five days a week.The pay
• 92% earn an hourly rate.• The hourly rates reported were $17.28, $23, $26, $27, $27.50 (twice), $28 (four times), $29.35, $30 (twice), and $33.The benefits received
• 67% receive health insurance.• 17% receive an employer contribution toward retirement.• 67% receive paid vacation and holidays.• 33% receive paid sick leave.• 50% receive life insurance.• 33% receive dental insurance.• 67% receive disability insurance.• 50% receive CE tuition reimbursement.Interesting comments about Pittsburgh
• I'm a recent graduate, and I've worked in one office for almost a year. Since I work in an area with several hygiene schools, my wage is lower than a lot of hygienists elsewhere. I'm not in a position to move and I'm not sure when it'll be appropriate to ask for a raise.Austin
Who they were
• Nine responses• 78% have practiced for more than 10 years.• 56% listed bachelor’s degrees, and 33% listed associate’s degrees as the highest level of completed education.• 75% practice four or five days a week.The pay
• 78% earn an hourly rate.• The hourly rates reported were $33, $34, $37.50, $38 (twice), $39, $40 (twice), $41, and $42.The benefits received
• 56% receive health insurance.• 56% receive an employer contribution toward retirement.• 78% receive paid vacation and holidays.• 44% receive paid sick leave.• 11% receive life insurance.• 22% receive dental insurance.• 11% receive disability insurance.• 33% receive CE tuition reimbursement.Interesting comments about Austin
• I worked in the St. Louis area from 2008 to 2009 and found the demand for hygienists was pretty low as the market there is saturated with hygienists. I worked three part-time jobs just to make full-time hours, and even then the pay was poor and benefits were hard to come by. Had I filled out this survey then, my answers would have been very different. Interestingly enough, had I answered this survey when I worked in the Houston area from 2006 to 2008, my answers would be very similar to this year’s. I moved back to Texas from Missouri in order to find good work and good pay once again! And now I’m happy once again with my career as an RDH.• The hygiene department is just as productive as in the past, but due to the drop in doctor production, hygiene revenue that was once shared with the hygienist is now used to pay other operating expenses. This is a bitter pill as I am working harder and longer while the dentists appear to be maintaining their lifestyles. They work three days a week, have multiple homes, and take multiple vacations. They have a Cadillac health insurance plan that most employees cannot afford to participate in. • Hourly rates have remained stable but hygienists in my area are slowly losing their benefits. • I received a 20% pay cut last year due to the economy and was cut from five days a week to four days. There is talk of more cuts to come. It’s a very stressful situation due to the economy.Miami
Who they were• Nine responses• 78% have practiced for more than 10 years.• 56% listed associate’s degrees, and 11% listed bachelor’s degrees as the highest level of completed education.• 63% practice four or five days a week.The pay
• 89% earn an hourly rate.• The hourly rates reported were $20, $25, $30 (four times), $30.50, $32, $34, $37.25 and $43.50.The benefits received
• Not available; only three respondents answered the question.Interesting comments about Miami
• As a hygienist, I feel insecure that, because of the economy, my job can be replaced by either the dentist or the assistants. Dentists pay their assistants half of what hygienists make, then have the assistants do cleanings and the patients have no idea. Incredible!• I have not had a raise in four years. When the economy turned sour, I was working four days a week, had two weeks paid vacation, paid holidays, $150 uniform allowance, and one week paid sick pay. All gone. I lost whole days or half days if they weren't full. We were a fee-for-service practice, and we now are on nine plans. Things have picked up a little, but I don't know if it’s the economy or the plans. We are working harder and making less. I have subbed as a teacher, but there are not hygiene jobs as foreign dentists have taken any opportunities in our state.San Antonio
Who they were
• Seven responses• 86% have practiced for more than 10 years.• 43% listed bachelor’s degrees, and 14% listed associate’s degrees as the highest level of completed education.• 67% practice four or five days a week.The pay
• 89% earn an hourly rate.• The hourly rates reported were $35, $39, and $40. Two daily rates of $231 and $240 were also reported.The benefits received
• 50% receive health insurance.• 67% receive an employer contribution toward retirement.• 100% receive paid vacation and holidays.• 100% receive paid sick leave.• 33% receive life insurance.• 17% receive dental insurance.• 33% receive disability insurance.• 83% receive CE tuition reimbursement.
