How To Become A Hygienist: What It Is and Career Path

What is a hygienist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

A hygienist is a dental professional focused on preventive oral health care. They perform cleanings, take X-rays, and provide oral hygiene education. Hygienists work with dentists to identify potential issues and help develop treatment plans. They may also administer local anesthesia and apply fluoride or sealants. Hygienists typically hold an associate's degree and must be licensed in their state. They help patients maintain healthy teeth and gums, preventing dental problems from developing or worsening.

ScoreHygienistUS Average

Salary

6.5

Avg. Salary $83,134

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.1

Growth rate 11%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.3

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.49%

Asian 6.15%

Black or African American 3.68%

Hispanic or Latino 11.64%

Unknown 3.63%

White 74.41%

Gender

female 84.83%

male 15.17%

Age - 41

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 41

Stress level

7.1

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.3

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

10.0

Work life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a hygienist?

Pros

Good work-life balance with flexible schedules
Ability to work part-time or full-time
High demand for hygienists, resulting in job security
Competitive pay and benefits
Variety of work settings, including private practices, clinics, schools, and hospitals

Cons

Repetitive nature of the work can be monotonous
Sitting for long periods can lead to back pain and other health issues
The cost of education and licensing may be high
Limited opportunities for full-time work in some areas
High level of competition for jobs in some areas

Key steps to become a hygienist

Explore hygienist education requirements

Most common hygienist degrees

Associate

57.7 %

Bachelor's

31.4 %

Master's

2.9 %

Start to develop specific hygienist skills

Skills	Percentages
Patients	43.24%
Oral Health	8.89%
Patient Education	5.80%
Clinical Findings	5.79%
Planing	4.95%

Obtain the necessary licensing

Becoming a licensed hygienist usually require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed hygienist in most of states. 43 states require hygienists to have license for their work. You can see the list of states below.

State	Education	Exam	License url
Maryland	Degree required	Third-party exam required	DENTAL HYGIENIST
Alabama	-	-	Licensed Dental Hygienist
Alaska	Degree required	Third-party exam required	Dental Hygienist
Arkansas	Degree required	State exam required	Dental Hygienist
California	Degree required	Both state and third-party exams required	Dental Hygienist, Registered

Research hygienist duties and responsibilities

Manage construction and demolition nationwide.
Perform oral prophylaxis and periodontal maintenance therapy for adult and geriatric patients with active periodontal disease.
Provide oral prophylactics and scaling and root planing on adults.
Perform oral prophylaxis, root planing, and soft tissue management.

Prepare your hygienist resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your hygienist resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a hygienist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable hygienist resume templates

Build a professional hygienist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your hygienist resume.

Apply for hygienist jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a hygienist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do hygienists rate their job?

-/5

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1 star

Hygienist reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2019

Pros

I love being able to help people get back on track with their health. I love to be a part of the process that stops and maintains oral disease.

Cons

It is taxing on your body, especially your neck and back.

A zippia user wrote a review on May 2019