Dental hygienists are a key part of the industry's workforce, examining patients for signs of oral diseases and providing preventive care.
Below are three fast facts about the U.S. dental hygienist workforce. Information was taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and represents national data as of May 2020.
1. Dental hygienists held about 206,100 jobs in 2020.
2. The median annual wage for dental hygienists is $77,090, or $37.06 per hour.
3. Employment of dental hygienists is projected to grow 11 percent from 2020 to 2030, faster than the average for all occupations. About 15,600 openings for dental hygienists are projected each year, on average, over the decade.