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These Are The 10 Best Cities For Dental Hygienists

By Chris Kolmar
Dec. 5, 2016
Last Modified and Fact Checked on:

Find a Job You Really Want In

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As you embark on your journey as a dental hygienist or consider a career shift, understanding which regions offer the most promising long-term prospects is crucial. The landscape for Dental Hygienists has evolved significantly, with regional variations impacting salary, job availability, and overall career growth.

To help you navigate these opportunities, we at Zippia have analyzed which U.S. cities provide the best environment for dental hygienists. Our findings highlight cities where hygienists earn competitive salaries, enjoy a favorable cost of living, and find numerous job openings.

Utilizing data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), we identified the cities that present the best opportunities for dental hygienists. Here’s our updated list of the top cities for dental hygienists in 2026:

  1. Santa Cruz, CA
  2. Mount Vernon, WA
  3. Coeur D’Alene, ID
  4. Longview, WA
  5. Corvallis, OR
  6. Chico, CA
  7. Medford, OR
  8. Olympia, WA
  9. Grants Pass, OR
  10. Prescott, AZ

As you can see, Santa Cruz stands out as the ideal city for dental hygienists seeking both job opportunities and lucrative pay.

Conversely, if you’re a dental hygienist contemplating your options, consider avoiding Lake Charles, LA, which currently ranks as a less favorable location.

Continue reading to discover how we compiled our research on the best cities for dental hygienists and for insights on the top ten cities.

How We Determined the Best Cities for Dental Hygienists




At Zippia, we engage with individuals from diverse backgrounds searching for employment. Our research indicates that two key factors drive job selection:

  • Job Availability
  • Compensation

To pinpoint the best cities for dental hygienists across the United States, we evaluated job availability and compensation rates. Our criteria, derived from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment Statistics, include:

  • Location Quotient: A metric indicating how prevalent a profession is within a particular city.
  • Average Annual Salary.
  • Average Annual Salary for Entry-Level Positions.

To ensure a fair comparison, we adjusted salary figures according to the cost of living in each state. This analysis encompassed 377 metropolitan areas nationwide, simplifying city identities (for instance, the “Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA NECTA Division” is referred to simply as Boston).

We ranked each city based on the criteria, assigning scores from 1 to 377, with 1 representing the highest ranking. The average rankings across all metrics culminated in a comprehensive Job Score, determining the best city for dental hygienists in the United States.

Now, let’s delve into what makes each city an exceptional choice for dental hygienists.

1. Santa Cruz, CA

Total Jobs: 340
Average Annual Salary: $98,300
Average Entry Level Salary: $81,040
Location Quotient: 2.57

2. Mount Vernon, WA

Total Jobs: 120
Average Annual Salary: $91,420
Average Entry Level Salary: $82,670
Location Quotient: 1.74

3. Coeur D’Alene, ID

Source:

Total Jobs: 130
Average Annual Salary: $87,100
Average Entry Level Salary: $73,370
Location Quotient: 1.63

4. Longview, WA

Total Jobs: 80
Average Annual Salary: $98,630
Average Entry Level Salary: $81,670
Location Quotient: 1.62

5. Corvallis, OR

Total Jobs: 110
Average Annual Salary: $91,260
Average Entry Level Salary: $69,060
Location Quotient: 2.13

6. Chico, CA

Total Jobs: 200
Average Annual Salary: $94,990
Average Entry Level Salary: $81,260
Location Quotient: 1.89

7. Medford, OR

Total Jobs: 280
Average Annual Salary: $85,050
Average Entry Level Salary: $70,440
Location Quotient: 2.38

8. Olympia, WA

Total Jobs: 230
Average Annual Salary: $91,010
Average Entry Level Salary: $81,030
Location Quotient: 1.56

9. Grants Pass, OR

Total Jobs: 80
Average Annual Salary: $85,460
Average Entry Level Salary: $66,710
Location Quotient: 2.46

10. Prescott, AZ

Total Jobs: 130
Average Annual Salary: $87,850
Average Entry Level Salary: $75,810
Location Quotient: 1.54

And That’s Our List of the Best Cities for Dental Hygienists

If you’re initiating your career as a dental hygienist, these cities should be at the forefront of your considerations. They offer high salaries, a wealth of job opportunities, and prospects for career advancement.

On the flip side, here are the cities that are less favorable for dental hygienists in the U.S.:

  1. Lake Charles, LA
  2. Shreveport, LA
  3. Racine, WI

Detailed List Of The Best Cities For Dental Hygienists

Rank State Average Salary Entry Level Salary # Of People
1 Santa Cruz, CA $98,300 $81,040 340
2 Mount Vernon, WA $91,420 $82,670 120
3 Coeur d’Alene, ID $87,100 $73,370 130
4 Longview, WA $98,630 $81,670 80
5 Corvallis, OR $91,260 $69,060 110
6 Chico, CA $94,990 $81,260 200
7 Medford, OR $85,050 $70,440 280
8 Olympia, WA $91,010 $81,030 230
9 Grants Pass, OR $85,460 $66,710 80
10 Prescott, AZ $87,850 $75,810 130
11 Yakima, WA $85,290 $67,520 210
12 Bremerton, WA $96,990 $82,340 160
13 Sacramento, CA $94,910 $80,740 1,970
14 Boise City, ID $70,780 $63,260 730
15 Bend, OR $79,240 $66,740 230
16 Spokane, WA $82,240 $66,130 550
17 San Luis Obispo, CA $93,370 $81,060 240
18 Kennewick, WA $86,100 $69,310 220
19 Idaho Falls, ID $73,220 $56,650 160
20 Eugene, OR $80,790 $65,510 390
21 Columbia, MO $78,520 $66,320 180
22 Elgin, IL $86,380 $66,310 570
23 Provo, UT $75,440 $63,660 480
24 Bellingham, WA $91,610 $79,810 150
25 Lawrence, KS $76,830 $57,110 130
26 Leominster, MA $88,470 $80,500 120
27 South Bend, IN $69,840 $58,650 370
28 Las Cruces, NM $81,800 $54,190 180
29 Pocatello, ID $67,450 $56,310 90
30 Albany, OR $74,980 $65,410 120
31 Lewiston, ID $78,880 $58,880 50
32 Lake Havasu City, AZ $76,560 $64,060 110
33 Haverhill, MA $91,870 $68,650 170
34 Burlington, NC $73,400 $63,270 130
35 Tacoma, WA $86,970 $65,040 520
36 Seattle, WA $91,230 $64,700 2,820
37 Walla Walla, WA $82,370 $68,020 50
38 Jonesboro, AR $70,760 $58,370 100
39 Vallejo, CA $101,640 $80,570 210
40 Gary, IN $70,110 $63,350 510
41 Kokomo, IN $66,920 $54,430 140
42 Denver, CO $81,110 $65,580 2,850
43 Portland, OR $74,690 $64,000 2,480
44 Oakland, CA $102,160 $81,020 1,580
45 Farmington, NM $98,470 $69,070 70
46 Lowell, MA $86,700 $73,270 310
47 Barnstable Town, MA $85,330 $70,130 250
48 Salem, OR $75,340 $63,580 320
49 Santa Fe, NM $78,720 $47,900 200
50 Reno, NV $108,710 $82,840 270
51 California, MD $88,530 $76,650 70
52 Cheyenne, WY $70,250 $54,860 100
53 Bloomington, IN $78,100 $64,310 90
54 Cape Girardeau, MO $69,190 $57,540 70
55 Anchorage, AK $87,970 $66,740 290
56 Framingham, MA $83,390 $68,430 440
57 Boulder, CO $79,530 $62,060 350
58 St. George, UT $66,580 $54,670 160
59 Yuba City, CA $89,490 $81,350 60
60 Hartford, CT $85,130 $67,510 1,360
61 Providence, RI $74,580 $64,680 1,180
62 Newark, NJ $85,360 $70,950 1,920
63 San Francisco, CA $108,790 $77,140 1,310
64 Ogden, UT $68,590 $55,670 480
65 Bismarck, ND $67,930 $53,920 150
66 Nashua, NH $80,760 $59,420 300
67 Abilene, TX $74,820 $64,940 100
68 Redding, CA $88,350 $81,060 80
69 Ames, IA $72,960 $64,380 70
70 Dallas, TX $75,990 $64,530 3,130
71 San Jose, CA $95,710 $71,890 1,340
72 Vineland, NJ $77,380 $65,520 120
73 Sierra Vista, AZ $88,090 $81,260 40
74 Wenatchee, WA $89,440 $69,480 50
75 Naples, FL $79,050 $56,560 250
76 Santa Maria, CA $93,950 $80,480 210
77 Fort Worth, TX $78,160 $64,470 1,170
78 Cincinnati, OH $71,010 $51,460 1,740
79 Camden, NJ $80,980 $67,530 850
80 Evansville, IN $68,590 $54,330 260
81 Grand Forks, ND $63,130 $52,620 120
82 Casper, WY $71,290 $49,520 90
83 Lancaster, PA $68,140 $53,950 570
84 Worcester, MA $79,990 $65,070 710
85 Greeley, CO $75,900 $65,890 170
86 Akron, OH $67,600 $54,810 510
87 Manchester, NH $78,700 $65,470 190
88 Billings, MT $67,730 $49,970 180
89 Parkersburg, WV $61,710 $52,420 80
90 Dayton, OH $70,720 $56,920 510
91 Dover, NH $75,550 $63,420 100
92 Lansing, MI $64,210 $52,470 670
93 Columbus, OH $71,970 $59,690 1,280
94 Dutchess County, NY $75,780 $64,780 490
95 San Antonio, TX $70,260 $57,170 1,530
96 Mansfield, OH $66,670 $53,960 80
97 Oxnard, CA $93,980 $51,880 610
98 Knoxville, TN $74,530 $55,140 520
99 Jackson, MI $68,830 $54,270 120
100 Springfield, MA $83,660 $66,460 610
Never miss an opportunity that’s right for you.

Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

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