Dental hygienists in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, Calif., have the highest average annual salary of any metropolitan area in the U.S., making $146,940 per year.
Nine out of the 10 metropolitan areas where dentists hygienists earn the most are in California.
Across the U.S., dental hygienists earn an average of $93,890 each year.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics released updated compensation data for dental hygienists April 2 to reflect 2024 information.
Here are the 10 metropolitan areas where hygienists have the highest mean annual salary:
- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, Calif.: $146,940
- Napa, Calif.: $145,550
- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, Calif.: $143,980
- Modesto, Calif.: $141,030
- Vallejo: $139,670
- Santa Rosa-Petaluma, Calif.: $139,630
- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, Wash.: $135,560
- Chico, Calif.: $136,370
- San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, Calif.: $135,130
- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, Calif.: $134,100
