PayByState

New Jersey · BLS SOC 29-1292

Dental Hygienist salary in New Jersey

Median $105,570 · Top 10% earn $135,250+ · Roughly 6,339 workers in New Jersey. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.

New Jersey median
$105,570
$50.75/hr
Top 10%
$135,250
90th percentile
Bottom 10%
$70,540
Entry-level range
Real pay
$93,095
CoL-adjusted (RPP 113.4)

New Jersey pays modestly above the U.S. median for dental hygienists — $105,570 versus the national median of $94,260. After adjusting for New Jersey's high cost of living, real purchasing power is actually below the U.S. average — the headline number is misleading. The state employs roughly 6,339 dental hygienists.

What drives dental hygienist pay in New Jersey

New Jersey hygienists earn above national median, driven by NYC-suburban pricing and dense corporate dental footprint along the I-95 corridor.

New Jersey ranks #10 of 50 states

Where New Jersey sits in the national distribution for dental hygienist pay, and the closest comparable states above and below.

Rank State Median vs. New Jersey
#9 Connecticut $106,510 +$940
#8 Hawaii $106,510 +$940
#7 Oregon $109,340 +$3,770
#10 New Jersey (this page) $105,570 —
#11 Maryland $103,690 −$1,880
#12 Minnesota $100,860 −$4,710
#13 Colorado $99,920 −$5,650
See all 50 states →

Find Dental Hygienist programs near you

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Education path for New Jersey

The typical path is a associate degree + state license (some bs), taking about 30 months. Tuition ranges from $12,000 (community college) to $65,000 (private accelerated). On the New Jersey median of $105,570, payback periods are typically 0.9 years or less from a starting income near minimum wage.

For full credentialing detail and the realistic career outlook, see the Dental Hygienist salary overview. To run your own numbers, use the ROI calculator with New Jersey selected.

Dental Hygienist salary in New Jersey — FAQ

What is the average dental hygienist salary in New Jersey?
The median dental hygienist salary in New Jersey is $105,570 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2024). The bottom 10% earn around $70,540; the top 10% earn $135,250 or more. About 6,339 people work in this role across the state.
How does New Jersey dental hygienist pay compare to the national average?
New Jersey's median of $105,570 is $11,310 above the U.S. national median of $94,260. After adjusting for New Jersey's cost of living (Regional Price Parity 113.4), the real-purchasing-power equivalent is $93,095.
Is dental hygienist a good career in New Jersey?
On the data: New Jersey employs roughly 6,339 dental hygienists, with a median wage of $105,570 and the top decile clearing $135,250. The role is projected to grow +9% nationally over the next decade. Whether it's "good" for you depends on whether the work suits you and whether you're positioned for the in-state metros that pay above the median.
What's the hourly rate for dental hygienists in New Jersey?
At the New Jersey median of $105,570 annually, the equivalent hourly rate is approximately $50.75/hr. The top 10% earn around $65.02/hr, while entry-level roles typically pay $33.91/hr or slightly above.

Methodology note

New Jersey-level wage data sourced from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 release (SOC 29-1292: Dental Hygienists), with state pay indexes from BLS area-comparison tables. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parities, 2023 release, where New Jersey's RPP is 113.4 (U.S. = 100). Last reviewed: May 2026.