Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025

Dental Hygienist Salary in New Jersey

The median dental hygienist earns $107,040 a year in New Jersey ($51.46 an hour), with the middle half earning between $101,270 and $115,470.[1]

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

25th percentile

$101,270

Lower end of the middle half

Median

$107,040

Half earn more, half earn less

75th percentile

$115,470

Upper end of the middle half

That's roughly $107,040 per year or $51.46/hr at the median. New Jersey runs about 9% higher than the national median.

The full pay range in New Jersey

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

Dental Hygienist wages, New Jersey vs. U.S. (BLS OEWS, May 2025)
PercentileNew Jersey hourlyNew Jersey annualU.S. hourlyU.S. annual
10th percentile$45.32$94,260$36.00$74,880
25th percentile$48.69$101,270$40.18$83,570
Median$51.46$107,040$47.16$98,100
75th percentile$55.51$115,470$52.16$108,480
90th percentile$56.60$117,730$60.60$126,050
Mean (average)$50.20$104,410$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 New Jersey

Employed

7,230

About 3.2% of all U.S. dental hygienists (calculation)

Per 1,000 jobs

1.69

Share of all jobs in the state

Location quotient

1.18

1.00 = U.S. average; New Jersey 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 New Jersey compares to the U.S.

  • Median pay: $107,040 in New Jersey vs. $98,100 nationally, $8,940 (9%) higher.
  • Entry pay (10th percentile): $94,260 vs. $74,880, 26% higher.
  • Top pay (90th percentile): $117,730 vs. $126,050, 7% lower.
  • Projected job growth (2024–2034): 11.1% in New Jersey 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 New Jersey

All 6 New Jersey metro areas with published BLS data, highest median first.[2]

Dental Hygienist pay by New Jersey metro area (BLS OEWS, May 2025)
Metro areaMedianMiddle halfEmployed
New York-Newark-Jersey City$109,720$105,990–$121,70014,230
Atlantic City-Hammonton$101,180$98,160–$105,250230
Trenton-Princeton$100,920$99,840–$102,290330
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington$100,820$96,560–$103,4804,180
Vineland$99,160$95,370–$100,08090
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton$82,060$78,900–$94,090530

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 New Jersey

New Jersey's official long-term projections expect employment of dental hygienists to grow 11.1% over 2024–2034, from 6,120 to 6,800 jobs, with about 450 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 New Jersey

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 New Jersey, or build a free, ATS-ready resume and get matched to practices that fit how you want to work.

Dental Hygienist salary in New Jersey: FAQ

How much do dental hygienists make in New Jersey?

The median annual wage for dental hygienists in New Jersey was $107,040 ($51.46 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $101,270 and $115,470. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $94,260 and the top 10% earned over $117,730.

Do dental hygienists in New Jersey earn more than the national median?

Yes. The New Jersey median of $107,040 is higher than the U.S. median of $98,100. That is $8,940 (9%) higher. This is a DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures and does not adjust for cost of living.

Which New Jersey metro area pays dental hygienists the most?

Among the 6 New Jersey metro areas with published BLS data, New York-Newark-Jersey City has the highest median at $109,720 a year. Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton has the lowest, at $82,060.

How many dental hygienists work in New Jersey?

BLS estimates 7,230 dental hygienists were employed in New Jersey in May 2025. That is 1.69 per 1,000 jobs in the state. The location quotient is 1.18, meaning the role is more concentrated than the national average.

Is demand for dental hygienists growing in New Jersey?

New Jersey's official long-term projections expect employment of dental hygienists to grow 11.1% over 2024–2034, from 6,120 to 6,800 jobs. That works out to about 450 openings a year, including replacements for people who leave the field. The national projection for the same period is 7%.

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