Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025

Dental Hygienist Salary in Maine

The median dental hygienist earns $97,680 a year in Maine ($46.96 an hour), with the middle half earning between $88,400 and $102,440.[1]

Updated October 2026 with BLS May 2025 wage data, the latest release.

25th percentile

$88,400

Lower end of the middle half

Median

$97,680

Half earn more, half earn less

75th percentile

$102,440

Upper end of the middle half

That's roughly $97,680 per year or $46.96/hr at the median. That's about the same as the national median.

The full pay range in Maine

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 Maine earn. The U.S. figures are shown alongside for comparison.[1][2]

Dental Hygienist wages, Maine vs. U.S. (BLS OEWS, May 2025)
PercentileMaine hourlyMaine annualU.S. hourlyU.S. annual
10th percentile$40.10$83,420$36.00$74,880
25th percentile$42.50$88,400$40.18$83,570
Median$46.96$97,680$47.16$98,100
75th percentile$49.25$102,440$52.16$108,480
90th percentile$52.25$108,680$60.60$126,050
Mean (average)$46.37$96,440$47.59$98,990

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Wages are gross pay for employees and exclude the self-employed. Annual figures assume full-time, year-round work (hourly rate × 2,080 hours) where BLS reports hourly pay.

How many dental hygienists work in Maine

Employed

1,060

About 0.5% of all U.S. dental hygienists (calculation)

Per 1,000 jobs

1.66

Share of all jobs in the state

Location quotient

1.16

1.00 = U.S. average; Maine is more concentrated than the national average

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.[2] A location quotient above 1 means the role makes up a bigger share of jobs here than nationally.

How Maine compares to the U.S.

  • Median pay: $97,680 in Maine vs. $98,100 nationally, about the same.
  • Entry pay (10th percentile): $83,420 vs. $74,880, 11% higher.
  • Top pay (90th percentile): $108,680 vs. $126,050, 14% lower.
  • Projected job growth (2024–2034): 4.1% in Maine vs. 7% nationally.

DSO Hire calculation: (state figure minus U.S. figure) divided by the U.S. figure, from BLS OEWS May 2025[1] and Projections Central[3]. Not adjusted for cost of living.

Dental Hygienist pay by metro area in Maine

All 2 Maine metro areas with published BLS data, highest median first.[2]

Dental Hygienist pay by Maine metro area (BLS OEWS, May 2025)
Metro areaMedianMiddle halfEmployed
Portland-South Portland$98,880$95,980–$99,480500
Bangor$88,450$83,830–$93,090130

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Gross wages, not adjusted for cost of living. Metro areas cross state lines where noted in the name.

Job outlook for dental hygienists in Maine

Maine's official long-term projections expect employment of dental hygienists to grow 4.1% over 2024–2034, from 1,010 to 1,050 jobs, with about 60 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.

What drives dental hygienist pay in Maine

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

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Browse open dental hygienist roles in Maine, or build a free, ATS-ready resume and get matched to practices that fit how you want to work.

Dental Hygienist salary in Maine: FAQ

How much do dental hygienists make in Maine?

The median annual wage for dental hygienists in Maine was $97,680 ($46.96 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $88,400 and $102,440. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $83,420 and the top 10% earned over $108,680.

Do dental hygienists in Maine earn more than the national median?

About the same. The Maine median of $97,680 is about the same as the U.S. median of $98,100. This is a DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures and does not adjust for cost of living.

Which Maine metro area pays dental hygienists the most?

Among the 2 Maine metro areas with published BLS data, Portland-South Portland has the highest median at $98,880 a year. Bangor has the lowest, at $88,450.

How many dental hygienists work in Maine?

BLS estimates 1,060 dental hygienists were employed in Maine in May 2025. That is 1.66 per 1,000 jobs in the state. The location quotient is 1.16, meaning the role is more concentrated than the national average.

Is demand for dental hygienists growing in Maine?

Maine's official long-term projections expect employment of dental hygienists to grow 4.1% over 2024–2034, from 1,010 to 1,050 jobs. That works out to about 60 openings a year, including replacements for people who leave the field. The national projection for the same period is 7%.

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