The average salary for a dental hygienist in California is around $124,930 per year.
Avg Salary
Dental hygienists earn an average yearly salary of $124,930.
Wages typically start from $102,090 and go up to $151,920.
57% above national average Updated in 2025
Dental hygienist earnings by seniority
Top-level dental hygienist earnings begin at:
$73.04 per hour
$151,920 per year
Senior-level dental hygienist earnings begin at:
$63.52 per hour
$132,120 per year
Mid-level dental hygienist earnings begin at:
$60.06 per hour
$124,930 per year
Junior-level dental hygienist earnings begin at:
$52.76 per hour
$109,730 per year
Starting level dental hygienist earnings begin at:
$49.08 per hour
$102,090 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Dental hygienist salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Texas | $99,240 |
| Delaware | $98,910 |
| Montana | $98,440 |
| North Carolina | $97,850 |
| Maine | $97,680 |
| Oklahoma | $97,580 |
| Hawaii | $97,570 |
| Vermont | $97,470 |
| Illinois | $96,670 |
| Wisconsin | $96,540 |
| New Mexico | $95,940 |
| Georgia | $95,490 |
| Idaho | $94,650 |
| Missouri | $92,750 |
| Nebraska | $92,580 |
| Indiana | $92,330 |
| South Dakota | $92,210 |
| Florida | $91,980 |
| Utah | $91,120 |
| North Dakota | $90,530 |
| Ohio | $88,990 |
| Rhode Island | $86,910 |
| Arkansas | $86,760 |
| Louisiana | $85,240 |
| Wyoming | $85,130 |
| Tennessee | $84,640 |
| South Carolina | $84,340 |
| Iowa | $84,010 |
| Michigan | $83,790 |
| Pennsylvania | $80,610 |
| Kentucky | $78,830 |
| West Virginia | $73,840 |
| Mississippi | $67,280 |
| Kansas | $63,665 |
| Alabama | $61,160 |
| Guam | $57,350 |
| District of Columbia | $137,220 |
| Alaska | $132,690 |
| Washington | $131,160 |
| California | $124,930 |
| Oregon | $122,080 |
| Nevada | $115,290 |
| Colorado | $109,580 |
| Maryland | $107,830 |
| New Jersey | $107,040 |
| New York | $106,130 |
| Minnesota | $103,970 |
| Virginia | $102,950 |
| New Hampshire | $101,250 |
| Arizona | $101,010 |
| Connecticut | $100,690 |
| Massachusetts | $100,640 |
How do dental hygienist salaries compare to similar careers?
Dental hygienists earn about the same as related careers in California. On average, they make less than healthcare administrators but more than physical therapists.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Healthcare administrator salary | $141K |
| Optometrist salary | $136K |
| Neuropsychologist salary | $158K |
| Dental hygienist salary | $125K |
| School psychologist salary | $128K |
| Geneticist salary | $114K |
| Clinical psychologist salary | $116K |
| Physical therapist salary | $124K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)




