In my opinion, if you are looking for a job that can bring you financial security, you had better try to be a dental hygienist. Such professional cooperates in a team with dentist. People with this job usually help do care for the teeth. For instance, they assist any need of teeth cleaning. Such cleaning is very advantageous to get rid of calculus, plaques, and stains. They also often take part in giving education to patients on how to keep their teeth healthy individually. In addition, dental hygienists help detect any symptom of disease on both gum and teeth through X-ray. Then, they will consult the examination results to dentists. Some of such dental health experts are able to give anesthetics as well if needed. Dental hygienists play an important role too in giving advice to patients about good lifestyle and food that can support them in keeping the health of their teeth. Even though this job only deals with a small part of the whole human body, it is truly worth it in terms of salary.
A dental hygienist salary is various. It depends on how big the office of the dental care is and where it is located. The same as other jobs, people with dental hygiene skill who stay in a big city will surely have much income that those who stay in a countryside. Besides the size and the location of the office, personal experience in the field can also determine the dental professional’s salary. If you are planning to have such job in the future, you should know its salary range. The lowest range starts from approximately $17 for an hour. Meanwhile, the highest range begins from approximately $62 for an hour. It means that in a year you can earn from $30,000 up to $120,000. This salary amount is absolutely bigger than that of dental assistant who can only gain $22,000 at the least and $50,000 at the most per year. What makes dental hygienists become an enjoyable job to do is because it does not always require people to work based on hourly rates. Some of them even often do their work according to basis of commission. The benefit that they can get by working this way is that it is more possible for them to earn more income since such work awards more bonuses for those who succeed in achieving more than the expected goals. The table and chart below represent current situation of dental hygienist salaries in some of U.S. states:
State |
Average Salary |
Alabama | $ 43,656 |
Alaska | $110,180 |
Arizona | $ 84,325 |
Arkansas | $ 75,016 |
California | $ 96,523 |
Colorado | $ 80,800 |
Connecticut | $ 83,004 |
Delaware | $ 68,612 |
Georgia | $ 51,744 |
Hawaii | $ 66,215 |
Idaho | $ 68,496 |
Illinois | $ 64,784 |
Indiana | $ 73,906 |
New Jersey | $ 85,320 |
Newyork | $ 54,101 |
Ohio | $ 66,749 |
Rhode Island | $ 79,818 |
Texas | $ 67,192 |
Utah | $ 40,442 |
Washington | $101,288 |
Washington DC | $ 98,867 |
West Virginia | $ 76,048 |
Wyoming | $ 72,823 |
I am sure that you are also eager to find out more things that people can gain by being teeth hygienists. The first advantage is that they are sometimes given a chance to enjoy free vacation. The one that usually becomes a sponsor for such program is either dental or health insurance. Then, as mentioned previously, those who are successful in passing the desired goals are often given more incentives. Since it is possible for the hygienists to take either part- or full-time job, their schedule is more flexible and adaptable. Meaning to say, it is free for them to decide when they work. If the office needs their help, they will do their job. If there is no request for a help, they can do other jobs that can lead them to get more money. In case you wish to get additional benefits, I recommend you take the full-time one. If the hygienists work in a hospital and in a big practice, their benefits will surely be much better. Those who work under the capacity of the government can also take the same advantages. To start career in the field of dental hygiene only needs 2 years at the least. Whether your study in this field will be time-consuming or not depends on the aspect that you choose. To start your own practice in private basis just requires 2 years of education that is equal with associate degree. There have been so many community and technical colleges that promote such education. Meanwhile, to begin working in teaching or research, a higher degree is a must. People should study the field for 4 years. In the first two years they have to complete education in prerequisite basis. They should pass such subjects as health, English, and science. Then, in the last two years they have to deepen their knowledge on dental hygiene. After 4 years of education has been accomplished, bachelor degree is given to them.
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In brief, a dental hygienist is one of the most promising medical careers. From 2006 up to 2016 the demand of people with this job gradually increases. That is why it can be said that this job is truly a great option to select. What makes it worth to give a try is that it dares to support people with the greatest amount of salary, the widest benefits, and the most flexible work hours. With this job, you will definitely be able to own convenient style of life. The more advanced your education is, the better your salary will be as dental professionals. As a starting point, you might want to practice what you have learned about dental hygiene in your first years of education in a small clinic. While you are also trying to achieve higher degree, you can search for other hospitals that can give you a better offer of salary. Once you have completed the degree, you will be more experienced and appropriate for the available job as a hygienist. You should also remember that even though larger cities pay a hygienist more, they also have higher standard of living. So, it will be better you for to check the current salary of dental hygienists as well as the standard of living in each city or state. In case there is any job vacancy for dental hygienists, you should make sure that you fulfill the exact requirements since it is possible for the vacancy to expect a hygienist with more than certificate. What you should not forget as well is that this job is not comparable with MD because MD requires more years of medical education and certification. At last, do you think that you deserve such job?
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