Nearly 95% of dental hygienists work in offices of dentists, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In the U.S., there are 219,070 hygienists across all industries and practice settings.
The agency released updated employment data in April to reflect 2024 information, the most recent available.
Here are the 10 industries and practice settings where dental hygienists have the highest employment, along with the number of hygienists in each field:
- Offices of dentists: 207,560
- Employment services: 2,610
- Offices of physicians: 2,390
- Outpatient care centers: 2,120
- Federal executive branch: 910
- Colleges, universities and professional schools: 640
- Local government, excluding schools and hospitals: 550
- General medical and surgical hospitals: 500
- State government, excluding schools and hospitals: 480
- Offices of other healthcare practitioners: 230
