Dental Hygienists in Kentucky
Thinking about a career as a Dental Hygienists in Kentucky? Here’s what the data says. 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.
What do Dental Hygienists Make in Kentucky?
For a dental hygienists working in Kentucky, the median annual wage is $77,440 per year (or roughly $37.23/hour).Pay can range from $60,120 at the 10th percentile to $95,680 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $60,120 | $28.90 |
| 25th percentile | $66,020 | $31.74 |
| Median (50th) | $77,440 | $37.23 |
| 75th percentile | $83,020 | $39.91 |
| 90th percentile | $95,680 | $46.00 |
The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in Kentucky nationwide is 0.76, meaning fewer dental hygienists per worker than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, dental hygienists earn a median of $101,356 per year ($48.73/hour), lower than the Kentucky median.
Employment Outlook
Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 3,471,633 dental hygienists nationwide. In Kentucky alone, approximately 2,140 people work in this role. That’s fewer than the typical state, which employs around 2,840 dental hygienists.
Top Kentucky Metros for Dental Hygienists
The metro areas below employ the most dental hygienists in Kentucky.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | 680 | $80,210 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | 430 | $77,310 |
| Bowling Green, KY | 120 | $74,420 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | 100 | $77,940 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | 80 | $74,130 |
| Owensboro, KY | 80 | $73,600 |
Top States for Dental Hygienists Employment
The table below shows the states where the most dental hygienists work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| California | 22,940 |
| Texas | 16,010 |
| Florida | 13,860 |
| New York | 10,350 |
| Illinois | 8,740 |
| Pennsylvania | 8,640 |
| Ohio | 8,500 |
| Michigan | 8,320 |
| Georgia | 7,360 |
| North Carolina | 7,030 |
| Massachusetts | 6,780 |
| New Jersey | 6,030 |
| Wisconsin | 5,620 |
| Washington | 5,140 |
| Indiana | 5,110 |
| Arizona | 5,040 |
| Minnesota | 4,660 |
| Tennessee | 4,550 |
| Colorado | 4,470 |
| Utah | 3,940 |
Highest-Paying States for Dental Hygienists
These states pay the most for dental hygienists.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $129,760 |
| District of Columbia | $127,900 |
| Washington | $125,370 |
| California | $121,080 |
| Oregon | $118,280 |
| Colorado | $106,730 |
| Maryland | $105,140 |
| Nevada | $103,160 |
| New Jersey | $102,600 |
| Massachusetts | $100,790 |
Skills
Top dental hygienists skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Key knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
Top abilities for dental hygienists, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Dental Hygienists typically:
- Record and review patient medical histories.
- Feel and visually examine gums for sores and signs of disease.
- Examine gums, using probes, to locate periodontal recessed gums and signs of gum disease.
- Clean calcareous deposits, accretions, and stains from teeth and beneath margins of gums, using dental instruments.
- Provide clinical services or health education to improve and maintain the oral health of patients or the general public.
- Chart conditions of decay and disease for diagnosis and treatment by dentist.
- Expose and develop x-ray film.
- Attend continuing education courses to maintain or update skills.
- Apply fluorides or other cavity preventing agents to arrest dental decay.
- Maintain dental equipment and sharpen and sterilize dental instruments.
- Maintain patient recall system.
- Feel lymph nodes under patient's chin to detect swelling or tenderness that could indicate presence of oral cancer.
Work Activities
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
- Assisting and Caring for Others
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
- Documenting/Recording Information
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others
- Handling and Moving Objects
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Getting Information
- Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
Tools & Technology
Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: Henry Schein Dentrix
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Programs that train for this career include:
- Dental Support Services
Featured schools near , edit
Related Careers
Other careers like dental hygienists include:
- Dentists, General
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
- Orthodontists
- Prosthodontists
- Anesthesiologist Assistants
- Respiratory Therapists
Also Known As
Dental Hygienist, Dental Nurse, Dental Treatment Coordinator, Hygienist, Licensed Dental Hygienist, Oral Hygienist, Pediatric Dental Hygienist, Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH).
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 29-1292.00
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