A dental hygienist salary, maximize your earning potential

A dental hygienist salary is evidence that it is among the top earning careers in the United States. Statistics show that it ranks among the top 10 highest paid hourly rates in the country. A certified dental hygienist can earn as much as $50 per hour! The average hourly rate usually falls around $30. This means you can easily make $40,000 annually – if you work 8 hours for 5 days a week.

For someone who is just starting, the annual dental hygienist salary may only amount to $20,000 - $30,000. Not a bad amount considering that it will only increase as you gain more experience and more certifications.

Of course, like other professions, there are conscious steps that you can take to increase your salary. As a dental hygienist there are 3 factors that can have a huge impact on your income.

Education and Training

The first tip to maximize your earning potential is to get the highest quality of education and training that you can. A Bachelor or Master's degree will give you the privilege to charge more. Investing more time and money for a higher education at a prestigious school or university will equip you with in-depth knowledge that you can gain leverage from once you start your practice.

Location Location Location

Another factor that can affect a dental hygienist salary is the location, i.e. the state or city in which you practice. Dental hygienist practicing in high profile urban areas can afford to charge higher hourly rates, while those working in areas dominated by low income group residents may only be able to charge between $15 - $20 an hour.

In fact if your clinic is near a health centre, you may not be able to charge a high hourly rate either. So pick your location carefully, if you want to earn a good dental hygienist salary.

Job Description

As a dental hygienist you have the option of setting up your own clinic, working in partnership with a dentist, getting associated with one (as you would need to refer your patients to someone, so it would be a good idea to have a loose mutually beneficial arrangement with a dentist) or you can seek employment in a hospital. Of course your salary will vary depending upon the option you choose.

If you are employed with a licensed dental doctor or in a hospital, your salary may be fixed. The advantage here is that other than your salary, you will also get health and social benefits. However, in case, you decide to set up your own practice, you will lose out on the extra perks but will able to charge a lucrative hourly rate. With this set up, your dental hygienist salary can depend on the number of hours you will work. If you work long hours you get to earn more. Of course, there is always the option of working for several dentists or hospitals at one time.

Dental hygienist salaryis very flexible. That is the beauty of this profession. You have control over where you want to practice, how you want to work and the time you want to allot for your clients. It can all be adjusted according to what you think will be most beneficial for you.