PayByState

Pennsylvania · BLS SOC 29-1292

Dental Hygienist salary in Pennsylvania

Median $92,370 · Top 10% earn $111,500+ · Roughly 10,188 workers in Pennsylvania. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.

Pennsylvania median
$92,370
$44.41/hr
Top 10%
$111,500
90th percentile
Bottom 10%
$61,730
Entry-level range
Real pay
$95,424
CoL-adjusted (RPP 96.8)

Pennsylvania pays close to the U.S. median for dental hygienists — $92,370 versus the national median of $94,260. Real purchasing power tracks roughly the U.S. average. The state employs roughly 10,188 dental hygienists.

What drives dental hygienist pay in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania has older dental practice ownership demographics and meaningful private-practice retirement turnover, which creates recurring openings in established offices. UPMC dental clinics are the largest employer cluster.

Pennsylvania ranks #23 of 50 states

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

Rank State Median vs. Pennsylvania
#22 Virginia $93,320 +$950
#21 Maine $93,320 +$950
#20 Delaware $95,200 +$2,830
#23 Pennsylvania (this page) $92,370 —
#24 Utah $91,430 −$940
#25 Texas $90,490 −$1,880
#26 Wisconsin $90,490 −$1,880
See all 50 states →

Find Dental Hygienist programs near you

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Education path for Pennsylvania

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 Pennsylvania median of $92,370, payback periods are typically 1.1 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 Pennsylvania selected.

Dental Hygienist salary in Pennsylvania — FAQ

What is the average dental hygienist salary in Pennsylvania?
The median dental hygienist salary in Pennsylvania is $92,370 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2024). The bottom 10% earn around $61,730; the top 10% earn $111,500 or more. About 10,188 people work in this role across the state.
How does Pennsylvania dental hygienist pay compare to the national average?
Pennsylvania's median of $92,370 is $1,890 below the U.S. national median of $94,260. After adjusting for Pennsylvania's cost of living (Regional Price Parity 96.8), the real-purchasing-power equivalent is $95,424.
Is dental hygienist a good career in Pennsylvania?
On the data: Pennsylvania employs roughly 10,188 dental hygienists, with a median wage of $92,370 and the top decile clearing $111,500. 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 Pennsylvania?
At the Pennsylvania median of $92,370 annually, the equivalent hourly rate is approximately $44.41/hr. The top 10% earn around $53.61/hr, while entry-level roles typically pay $29.68/hr or slightly above.

Methodology note

Pennsylvania-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 Pennsylvania's RPP is 96.8 (U.S. = 100). Last reviewed: May 2026.