Both the federal and state government identify Florida as a hotbed of job opportunities for dental hygienists. In 2013, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics heralded Florida as having the third highest employment level for dental hygienists in the nation.
In addition, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity included dental hygienists in their exclusive list of high demand occupations for 2014-2015.
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During this short-term projection period, the state government expects the dental hygienist profession to experience a 3.39% job growth rate. This growth will likely result in roughly 569 job openings per year.
According to the most current wage reports From the Department of Economic Opportunity, Florida dental hygienists earn an average salary of $62,238/yr. or $29.92/hr. However, these professionals may also earn:
- An entry-level average salary of $45,884/yr. or $22.06/hr.
- A median average salary of $64,274/yr. or $30.90/hr.
- An experienced average salary of $70,415/yr. or $33.85/hr.
Salary and Wage Percentiles for Dental Hygienists in Florida
Dental hygienists in Florida typically earn between $40,000 and $80,000 annually. Employees that receive higher-end salaries typically have college degrees, years of field experience, and considerable training prior to being hired.
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2013, dental hygienist salary and wage percentiles in Florida were as follows:
Dental Hygienist Salaries
- 10th Percentile: $39, 600/yr.
- 25th Percentile: $51,700/yr.
- Median Percentile: $63,100/yr.
- 75th Percentile: $71,900/yr.
- 90th Percentile: $78,500/yr.
Dental Hygienist Wages
- 10th Percentile: $19.04/hr.
- 25th Percentile: $24.87/hr.
- Median Percentile: $30.34/hr.
- 75th Percentile: $34.56/hr.
- 90th Percentile: $37.76/hr.
Regional Salaries and Wages for Dental Hygienists in Florida
A dental hygienist’s salary and wage earning potential may differ depending upon their regional placement of employment. In 2013, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics released these geographic pay averages for Florida:
Area name
Employment
Hourly mean wage
Annual mean wage
Hourly median wage
Hourly 75th percentile wage
Hourly 90th percentile wage
Annual median wage
Annual 75th percentile wage
Annual 90th percentile wage
Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL
250
32.29
67170
33.12
37.45
43.10
68880
77890
89640
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin FL
80
28.65
59600
28.85
33.13
35.39
60000
68920
73610
Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach FL
250
28.40
59080
27.88
32.35
35.83
57980
67290
74520
Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach-Deerfield Beach FL Metropolitan Division
1030
31.52
65560
32.15
35.72
39.87
66880
74300
82940
Gainesville FL
210
26.32
54740
26.09
29.69
33.95
54260
61750
70620
Jacksonville FL
770
29.70
61770
31.87
34.52
36.14
66290
71810
75170
Lakeland-Winter Haven FL
270
29.79
61970
31.03
34.23
36.19
64530
71190
75280
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach FL
3090
28.20
58650
28.51
33.82
37.70
59310
70340
78420
Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall FL Metropolitan Division
1230
24.98
51950
24.41
28.98
34.29
50780
60290
71320
Naples-Marco Island FL
220
37.17
77310
37.79
41.86
44.30
78600
87070
92150
North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota FL
360
27.59
57390
29.59
33.80
36.35
61540
70310
75600
Ocala FL
190
28.52
59330
28.82
33.21
36.07
59950
69070
75030
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford FL
980
31.28
65060
31.79
35.16
40.18
66130
73130
83580
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville FL
440
29.67
61700
29.20
33.95
38.11
60730
70620
79270
Palm Coast FL
40
31.25
65000
32.57
34.69
35.96
67750
72150
74790
Panama City-Lynn Haven-Panama City Beach FL
80
26.63
55390
26.80
29.06
31.92
55750
60440
66390
Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent FL
310
24.77
51520
25.26
27.34
28.59
52530
56870
59470
Port St. Lucie FL
190
29.27
60880
29.22
33.02
35.47
60770
68680
73790
Punta Gorda FL
90
32.94
68510
32.92
36.28
42.04
68480
75460
87440
Sebastian-Vero Beach FL
100
31.70
65930
32.32
34.97
36.59
67230
72740
76110
Tallahassee FL
190
26.59
55310
26.34
29.51
35.52
54800
61370
73880
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater FL
1520
30.48
63400
32.66
35.68
39.74
67930
74210
82650
West Palm Beach-Boca Raton-Boynton Beach FL Metropolitan Division
840
28.87
60040
29.67
34.65
42.20
61710
72060
87770
Northwest Florida nonmetropolitan area
80
29.12
60580
29.46
33.92
37.08
61280
70550
77120
Northeast Florida nonmetropolitan area
150
28.89
60100
28.12
32.96
35.88
58490
68560
74640
South Florida nonmetropolitan area
110
35.22
73250
36.42
41.38
45
75740
86080
93600
