Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dental Hygienist Salary in Florida
The median dental hygienist earns $91,980 a year in Florida ($44.22 an hour), with the middle half earning between $80,190 and $96,060.[1]
25th percentile
$80,190
Lower end of the middle half
Median
$91,980
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile
$96,060
Upper end of the middle half
That's roughly $91,980 per year or $44.22/hr at the median. Florida runs about 6% lower than the national median.
The full pay range in Florida
BLS publishes five points on the pay curve. The 10th percentile is a reasonable read on entry pay, and the 90th shows what the best-paid dental hygienists in Florida earn. The U.S. figures are shown alongside for comparison.[1][2]
| Percentile | Florida hourly | Florida annual | U.S. hourly | U.S. annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $36.52 | $75,960 | $36.00 | $74,880 |
| 25th percentile | $38.56 | $80,190 | $40.18 | $83,570 |
| Median | $44.22 | $91,980 | $47.16 | $98,100 |
| 75th percentile | $46.18 | $96,060 | $52.16 | $108,480 |
| 90th percentile | $47.61 | $99,040 | $60.60 | $126,050 |
| Mean (average) | $42.46 | $88,320 | $47.59 | $98,990 |
How many dental hygienists work in Florida
11,980
1.21
0.84
How Florida compares to the U.S.
- Median pay: $91,980 in Florida vs. $98,100 nationally, $6,120 (6%) lower.
- Entry pay (10th percentile): $75,960 vs. $74,880, 1% higher.
- Top pay (90th percentile): $99,040 vs. $126,050, 21% lower.
- Projected job growth (2024–2034): 14.4% in Florida vs. 7% nationally.
Dental Hygienist pay by metro area in Florida
All 22 Florida metro areas with published BLS data, highest median first.[2]
| Metro area | Median | Middle half | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naples-Marco Island | $100,140 | $98,250–$101,550 | 190 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota | $95,930 | $92,250–$97,590 | 610 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater | $95,870 | $84,010–$97,600 | 1,670 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | $95,400 | $81,580–$99,630 | 390 |
| Jacksonville | $94,960 | $83,710–$96,720 | 1,110 |
| Punta Gorda | $94,740 | $81,550–$96,290 | 70 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor | $94,490 | $91,130–$103,340 | 140 |
| Port St. Lucie | $94,060 | $82,070–$104,410 | 440 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven | $93,080 | $82,140–$95,630 | 290 |
| Wildwood-The Villages | $92,900 | $79,730–$95,230 | 80 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford | $92,560 | $77,770–$94,380 | 1,490 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers | $91,120 | $79,250–$93,770 | 350 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin | $88,030 | $75,740–$96,140 | 170 |
| Panama City-Panama City Beach | $87,360 | $81,120–$92,380 | 100 |
| Gainesville | $84,750 | $79,100–$92,590 | 240 |
| Ocala | $83,260 | $75,980–$90,840 | 150 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach | $82,780 | $79,780–$93,340 | 3,460 |
| Homosassa Springs | $81,810 | $79,270–$91,360 | 50 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent | $81,780 | $76,700–$92,680 | 250 |
| Sebring | $80,590 | $79,100–$91,660 | 40 |
| Tallahassee | $79,520 | $77,870–$90,130 | 160 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach | $79,050 | $74,350–$91,240 | 230 |
Job outlook for dental hygienists in Florida
Florida's official long-term projections expect employment of dental hygienists to grow 14.4% over 2024–2034, from 13,890 to 15,880 jobs, with about 1,090 openings a year.[3] The national projection for the same period is 7%.
Nationally, the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook projects dental hygienist employment to grow 8% over 2025–35, much faster than the average for all occupations, with about 15,000 openings a year.[4]
Openings include replacements for people who retire or change careers, which is why they can far exceed net growth. For what this means for hiring, see The dental hiring shortage, by the numbers.
Licensing for dental hygienists in Florida
Licensing board: Florida Board of Dentistry[5] (licenses dentists, dental hygienists and dental radiographers)
Path to a license: Graduate from a board-approved or CODA-accredited program, then pass the NBDHE, the ADEX dental hygiene exam and the Florida Laws and Rules exam.[6]
What drives dental hygienist pay in Florida
Pay for a dental hygienist depends on experience, setting, and metro. The metro table above shows how much location alone moves the median. Group practices and dental support organizations (DSOs) compete for talent across many locations, and benefits, schedules and bonuses can matter as much as base pay.
Hiring an outside agency is one way practices fill gaps, and it is expensive. See what agencies charge in What dental staffing agencies actually charge.
For dental pros
Know your worth, then go get it
Browse open dental hygienist roles in Florida, or build a free, ATS-ready resume and get matched to practices that fit how you want to work.
Dental Hygienist salary in Florida: FAQ
How much do dental hygienists make in Florida?
The median annual wage for dental hygienists in Florida was $91,980 ($44.22 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $80,190 and $96,060. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $75,960 and the top 10% earned over $99,040.
Do dental hygienists in Florida earn more than the national median?
No. The Florida median of $91,980 is lower than the U.S. median of $98,100. That is $6,120 (6%) lower. This is a DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures and does not adjust for cost of living.
Which Florida metro area pays dental hygienists the most?
Among the 22 Florida metro areas with published BLS data, Naples-Marco Island has the highest median at $100,140 a year. Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach has the lowest, at $79,050.
How many dental hygienists work in Florida?
BLS estimates 11,980 dental hygienists were employed in Florida in May 2025. That is 1.21 per 1,000 jobs in the state. The location quotient is 0.84, meaning the role is less concentrated than the national average.
Is demand for dental hygienists growing in Florida?
Florida's official long-term projections expect employment of dental hygienists to grow 14.4% over 2024–2034, from 13,890 to 15,880 jobs. That works out to about 1,090 openings a year, including replacements for people who leave the field. The national projection for the same period is 7%.
Who licenses dental hygienists in Florida?
The Florida Board of Dentistry. In short: graduate from a board-approved or CODA-accredited program, then pass the NBDHE, the ADEX dental hygiene exam and the Florida Laws and Rules exam. Confirm current requirements on the board's website before you apply.
Hiring in Florida?
Fill dental hygienist roles across every location.
Keep exploring
Other roles in Florida
Dental Hygienist salary by state
Sources
- 1.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: Dental Hygienists (29-1292), national, state and metro estimates
- 2.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 time-series data files (percentiles, employment, location quotients)
- 3.Projections Central, Florida long-term occupational projections 2024–2034: Dental Hygienists
- 4.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Dental Hygienists
- 5.Florida Board of Dentistry
- 6.Florida Board of Dentistry, licensure requirements