Career Profile
Dental Hygienists
Dental Hygienists assess patients for oral hygiene problems, admister oral hygiene care, and advise patients on oral health maintenance.
General Information
Administer oral hygiene care to patients. Assess patient oral hygiene problems or needs and maintain health records. Advise patients on oral health maintenance and disease prevention. May provide advanced care such as providing fluoride treatment or administering topical anesthesia.
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Dental Hygienists
Occupational Outlook
For the Rural Capital Area
Job Opportunities
Over the next five years, an average of 64 openings per year are projected for Dental Hygienists.
Employment Change
Employment for Dental Hygienists is forecasted to increase on par with the regional average by 17.1% between 2023 and 2028.
Earnings Potential
An average worker in this occupation is paid $42.19/hour. Entry level workers are paid $33.09, while experienced workers are paid $42.14. The median wage is significantly above average regional wages across occupations.
Local Employment Opportunities
There are 582 Dental Hygienists in the RCA region. By 2028 this number could reach 681.
Top 5 Employing Industries, Locally
The top industries employing Dental Hygienists are Offices of Dentists, Offices of Physicians, and Employment Services.
Knowledge Areas
The top most significant knowledge categories for Dental Hygienists include Medicine and Dentistry, Customer and Personal Service, and Psychology.
Educational Attainment Patterns
The most common level of education for Dental Hygienists is Associate's. 100% of people employed in these roles have some form of college degree.