The dental hygienist salary is a revelation to those who assume that dentistry jobs don't pay well. Oral hygienists jobs are highly sought after. They're also among the lucrative jobs around, especially if you have undergone advanced level hygienist training. Several decades ago, oral hygienists were a new breed in the field of dentistry. They didn't use to have the status nor the kind of salary that they are obviously enjoying now.
The wheels have turned for these professionals, and today, oral hygienists are regarded as an important player in the oral health care field. More and more select training programs are being formulated to meet the ever-increasing demand for oral hygienists. Reports say that in the United States, approximately 150,000 people work as oral hygienists. That's quite a big number for a profession that's been around for just a few decades.
Do not expect the hygienists throughout the country to earn same amount of pay collectively. The dental hygienist salary depends on the nature of the work they perform. Also, the salary also depends on whether they work on a part-time or full-time basis. Those who work on a full-time basis earn differently from those who work on a part-time basis. It's often the case that oral hygienists who work part-time at several different places on any given day make more money than oral hygienists who work full-time at one place. There are hygienists who make money based on commission; their pay is based on the plans they sell or how many dental cleanings they've performed per day. Some dental clinics also pay bonuses to their oral hygienists depending on the money they make in a month. A certain percentage of the money earned within a month will be given away to the hygienists by way of bonuses to encourage them to perform more.
The dental hygienist salary is about $30 per hour, so an oral hygienist can make an average of $60,000 per year, which is pretty good considering other entry-level medical jobs don't pay as well hourly. Over the past several years there has been a considerable increase in the dental hygienist salary which in turn has led to a steep rise in the number of hygienists entering the field annually. Observers of the job market are apparently still anticipating an upward surge in this position's income in the years to come.
Previously, a dentist alone used to handle everything from reviewing patient's case studies to removing sutures. In fact, very few dentists welcomed having oral hygienists in their offices and helping them in carrying out their work. Dental hygiene has grown into a distinct specialization apart from the normal dentistry field and now has special training programs in place to train individuals. Although an oral hygienist cannot perform all the procedures that a dentist is entitled to perform, they do enjoy leeway in today's medical scenarios and do more than holding a mouth mirror to the patient.
Apart from the regular dental hygienist salary, employees are also entitled to other emoluments like paid vacation, sick leave, reimbursement for those pursuing higher studies, health insurance (mostly for full-time professionals) and other incentives which are usually rewarded to medical professionals. The benefits received by hygienists depend on the dentist's office they are working in. For instance, hygienists employed in a small or single dentist's office may just get the basic benefits, while those employed in larger offices may get more benefits.
In the last decade, there has been a steady increase in the dental hygienist salary. According to surveys, oral hygienist jobs are among those that can survive even in the midst of a recession. Oral hygienists who have had proper training have managed to make a buck even in these tough times making it one of the more reliable professions.
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