Depending on your area, dental hygienists can make anywhere between $21,618 and $30,283 per year during their first few years out of school, with benefits if you're full time, and are either paid on salary or by the hour, usually making more in the bigger cities. It seems like the national average is around $30 per hour, less if you are just out of school. More experienced hygienists make upward of $50,000 a year.

As a dental hygienist you will perform a wide range of services with a focus on preventative oral health care, such as cleaning patients teeth and educating them on how to take care of their teeth and gums. Working pretty much side by side with the dentist some of the duties include: Examining teeth and gums, Collecting patient information, Removing plaque and stains, Applying fluoride and other preventatives, Teaching patients about good oral hygiene. To become a dental hygienist you'll need a 2 or 4 year degree in dental hygiene. Most programs are offered through community colleges or other technical colleges. You also must become licensed by the state in which you plan to practice. Almost all states require the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination in addition to the regional or state clinical exam.

Some of the benefits of a career as a dental hygienist include a flexible work schedule either part time or full time, some work in more than one office. Also this career is pretty stable as you are an asset to the dental office. If you are a 'People person' it's a great fit since you will be working in a very people friendly atmosphere. The biggest benefit is that dental hygienist's have a fairly competitive salary.

The mean annual Dental Hygienist Salary in the United States in May 2009 is $34,000. Depending on a number of factors, this salary base may be higher or lower for certain individuals. One of these factors is the work setting as those that are working in specialty hospitals receive higher salary than those that are working in dentist offices. The State where you're working in also determines the amount of your assistant salary, as those that are working in the State of Alaska receive a higher salary than those that are working in California. As mentioned earlier, individuals with formal training and certification earn higher salaries, just like those with more experience on the job.

According to IDC, a top national research firm, there are between 34.3 million and 36.6 million home office households in the United States alone. Entrepreneur magazine estimates that $427 billion is generated each year by home-based businesses. Between the growth of the internet and the shift to a service based economy, a home based business can create serious full time income. Most people want to become a dental hygienist, or enter similar occupations, because of societal pressures or because their parents want them to earn Dental Hygienist Salary. The perception is that it is a 'Safe' career path, but is there really such a thing nowadays? You have to ask yourself, do I really want to do this? Is being a dental hygienist really your dream?