Ways To Get Higher Dental Hygienist Salary

There’s nothing more fulfilling than having a high-paying career with flexible working hours and career development options. In the medical field, particularly the dental field, dental hygienists are enjoying a sudden popularity and demand for their services. This is well compensated by a high dental hygienist salary compared to other medical professions.

The sudden demand for dental hygienists in the US and other countries may have been prompted by various campaigns for preventive oral health care. It turns out that poor oral health contributes to the development of many of the leading cancers and diseases acquired by Americans and people all over the world. Many require the help of dental hygienists to diagnose oral health status and provide proper oral health tips. Dental hygienists also perform basic dental procedures such as cleaning, taking dental x-rays and dental fillings.

Increasing dental hygienist salary for associate graduates

Being a dental hygienist is not that an easy endeavor. However, because of the probability of a high dental hygienist salary, students struggle to finish the course and undergo extensive training. The course can be taken for as little as 2 years, graduating with an associate course. An associate course could land one a job in dental clinics as a dental assistant. The average dental hygienist salary for those starting out their career is around $21.59 hourly or $44,900 annually. This of course depends on the city in which the dental office is located. The rates can vary depending on the location of the establishment. Some can work part time or full time. Some get their salary daily, weekly, monthly or commission basis. Dental hygienists have very flexible working hours. One way for them to earn a higher dental hygienist salary is to take several jobs and balance their schedule with various employers.

Increasing dental hygienist salary for those with bachelor’s degree

Others choose to go through the entire 4-year course which leads to a bachelor’s degree. Having a degree increases the chances of landing a good job. This generally means a relatively higher dental hygienist salary even if just starting out in the career. Employers prefer dental hygienists who have more extensive education and training. This is to ensure quality of service provided by their establishment. Those who graduated with a degree also have various career options. They can work in private companies, teach in dental schools, or work under the federal government. There can be additional benefits such as medical and dental insurance.

Others who graduated with a bachelor’s degree and already earned enough working experience take up further studies leading to a master’s degree. Having a master’s degree can increase one’s qualifications which can lead to a promotion. Dental hygienists with a master’s degree can become a head of a department or take an extra job teaching in major universities. Such options will definitely increase the rate of dental hygienist salary.

Another way to increase dental hygienist salary is to work in a major city such as New York. The rates of dental hygienists largely depend on location. Some of the highest paying states include California, Washington, Nevada, and Alaska.