January 209 | Modern Hygienist
career: Exclusive Salary survey

What are you worth?

A quick breakdown of this year’s data.

Compiled by Thais Carter

Before diving into the nitty gritty of the data, it is important to remind ourselves that even when the numbers are good, no annual salary or hourly wage can accurately reflect the value of your work. In the life of the practice and in the lives of patients, dental hygienists are often behind-the-scenes heroes helping to keep the office on target and smiles healthy. With increasing attention paid to oral-systemic links and preventive care, your role only continues to grow. Before you can expect any employer to fully appreciate your value, you have to know what you’re worth—not just in dollars and cents.

85% of survey participants are glad they chose dental hygiene as a career, up from 70% last year.

To advance thier career, almost half of survey participants need product and technology information (56%) and additional training (47%). Last year, additional training (49%) and career advice (48%) ranked highest, indicating an important link in how products help dental hygienists practice better.

52% of participants were compensated by an hourly wage only. The average amount went up from $32.50 last year to $32.78 this year.

For those who reported an annual salary, the avearge amount increased from $52,532 last year to $56,343 this year.

Fewer of you received a salary increase this year versus last year (from 65% to 60%), but even more importantly, while the majority of you felt the raise was fair, the percentage of respondents who believed the raise was fair decreased from 81% to 74%.

For the full breakdown of all the data from this year’s survey, click here.