Best Cities for Dental Hygienists

Dental hygienists are a key part of our health care system, cleaning teeth, examining patients for signs of oral diseases, and providing other preventive dental care. As the population ages, the demand for dental care is increasing, meaning more opportunities for dental hygienists. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 20% growth in employment for dental hygienists over the next ten years. Given this high demand, dental hygienists have the option to settle down in a variety of cities, but where exactly are the best opportunities?

Our study at AdvisorSmith ranked 346 U.S. cities to determine the most attractive cities for dental hygienists to pursue their careers in. We list the top 50 cities for dental hygienists below, and we also break down the top small, midsize, and large cities for dental hygienists.

Our analysis found that many of the best cities for dental hygienists are small and midsize cities. Smaller cities have, on average, older populations as compared to big cities, and as people keep more of their original teeth than did prior generations, the need to maintain and treat teeth is fueling higher demand for dental hygienists. Coupled with lower costs of living, smaller cities won out in our study, with 10 of the top 10 and 44 of the top 50 cities having populations under 500,000.

Best Cities for Dental Hygienists

1. Sherman, TX

Located north of Dallas near the southern Oklahoma border, Sherman was the top city in our study of the best cities for dental hygienists. Sherman, founded in 1846, is an industrial and retail hub, and its top industries include health care, manufacturing, and retail trade. Top employers in Sherman include Tyson Fresh Meats, Wilson N. Jones Hospital, and Texas Instruments. In the late 19th century, Sherman was considered “The Athens of Texas,” with the development of many institutions of higher education. Sherman is home to Austin College, a private, Presbyterian, liberal arts college that is the oldest university in Texas operating under its original charter.

The city of Sherman has 54% more jobs for dental hygienists than the average American city. Dental hygienists earned an average salary of $84,010 in Sherman, which exceeds the national average by 11%. Those salaries go far in Sherman, as the city boasts a cost of living 17% below the average U.S. city.

2. Medford, OR

Medford was the #1 midsize city in our study for dental hygienists. Located just 27 miles north of the northern California border, Medford has an economy that was historically fueled by agriculture and timber products. Harry & David, the largest direct marketer of fruit and food gifts, was founded in Medford in 1910. Today, Medford’s economy is primarily driven by the health care and social assistance industry. Medford boasts two major medical centers, Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center and Providence Medford Medical Center, and is also seen as an ideal retirement destination.

Dental hygienists in Medford earned an average annual salary of $87,230, which is 16% above the national average salary for dental hygienists. The city also hosts an astounding 135% more jobs for dental hygienists than the average city.

3. Flint, MI

Flint is located in Mid Michigan northwest of Detroit and is the seventh-largest city in the state. Flint’s economy has historically been dominated by the automobile industry. Nicknamed the “Vehicle City,” Flint is home to General Motors, which was founded there in 1908. Since the 1970s, GM has significantly downsized their workforce in Flint, leading to a major shift in Flint’s economy. Today, the health care sector is Flint’s largest industry, with Hurley Medical Center and McLaren Regional Medical Center serving as top employers in the city.

Flint hosts an incredible 129% more jobs for dental hygienists on a per-capita basis compared with the U.S. average. Additionally, salaries for dental hygienists in Flint average $63,370, while the cost of living is 18% below the national average.

4. Grants Pass, OR

Situated just 30 miles west of Medford, our #1 midsize city for dental hygienists, Grants Pass is a small city in southwestern Oregon. Grant Pass’s economy, up until the 1970s, was primarily centered around the lumber industry. Today, the economy has shifted toward the service sector, with health care being the largest industry in Grants Pass. Asante Three Rivers Medical Center, a general acute care hospital that was the result of a merger between Josephine Memorial Hospital and Southern Oregon Medical Center, is the city’s largest employer.

Grants Pass dental hygienists earn on average $84,250 annually, about 12% higher than the national average. Grants Pass also boasts 123% more jobs for dental hygienists compared with the average U.S. city.

5. Yakima, WA

Located in south-central Washington, Yakima is a productive agricultural region, known for growing most of the nation’s hops and also a burgeoning wine industry. Aside from agriculture, Yakima’s economy is powered by the health care and social assistance sector, with Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital, Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic, and Yakima Regional Medical & Cardiac Center being three of the top 10 employers in the city.

Yakima benefits from a low cost of living, 7% below the national average, while also hosting 20% more jobs for dental hygienists on a per-capita basis compared with the national average. Dental hygienists in Yakima also enjoy an above average salary of $90,440, exceeding the national average by 20%.

Top Cities for Dental Hygienists by City Size

Forty-four of the top 50 best cities for dental hygienists were small or midsize cities, but the small town atmosphere may not be ideal for everyone. In order to highlight this distinction in lifestyle preference, our study segments cities into different sizes based on population, listing the top 10 small (population under 150,000), midsize (population of 150,000-500,000), and large (greater than 500,000 population) cities for dental hygienists.

Top 50 Cities for Dental Hygienists

Below, we list the top 50 cities for dental hygienists. In addition to the ranking, we provide the total number of jobs for dental hygienists, along with the average annual salary, location quotient, cost of living, and the size of the city.

Rank	City	City Size	Average Annual Salary	Total Jobs	Location Quotient	Cost of Living
1	Sherman, TX	Small	$84,010	100	1.54	83
2	Medford, OR	Midsize	$87,230	300	2.35	110
3	Flint, MI	Midsize	$63,370	470	2.29	82
4	Grants Pass, OR	Small	$84,250	90	2.23	108
5	Yakima, WA	Midsize	$90,440	170	1.2	93
6	Chico, CA	Midsize	$93,690	220	1.82	112
7	Kokomo, IN	Small	$64,990	110	1.81	78
8	Jonesboro, AR	Small	$69,540	150	1.78	83
9	Rockford, IL	Midsize	$78,010	290	1.32	84
10	Walla Walla, WA	Small	$91,320	60	1.46	102
11	Fairbanks, AK	Small	$113,190	60	1.13	120
12	Abilene, TX	Midsize	$80,540	100	1.04	84
13	Great Falls, MT	Small	$77,690	90	1.7	95
14	Lawrence, KS	Small	$79,950	120	1.62	96
15	Saginaw, MI	Midsize	$59,390	260	2.01	79
16	Modesto, CA	Large	$107,210	310	1.15	116
17	Olympia, WA	Midsize	$98,080	260	1.57	117
18	Pueblo, CO	Midsize	$71,690	130	1.49	85
19	South Bend, IN	Midsize	$65,900	350	1.78	84
20	Muskegon, MI	Midsize	$71,270	120	1.23	80
21	Knoxville, TN	Large	$79,190	580	1.01	85
22	Prescott, AZ	Midsize	$92,120	130	1.4	108
23	Farmington, NM	Small	$79,940	100	1.45	95
24	Joplin, MO	Midsize	$70,160	140	1.2	79
25	Idaho Falls, ID	Small	$69,250	170	1.73	89
26	Kennewick, WA	Midsize	$80,690	290	1.69	103
27	Sierra Vista, AZ	Small	$83,820	50	0.98	91
28	Springfield, IL	Midsize	$75,940	190	1.21	87
29	Anchorage, AK	Midsize	$110,800	350	1.39	133
30	Bellingham, WA	Midsize	$92,430	250	1.87	126
31	Mankato, MN	Small	$72,840	150	1.89	100
32	Worcester, MA	Large	$86,630	710	1.68	114
33	Kankakee, IL	Small	$71,080	90	1.43	88
34	Roanoke, VA	Midsize	$76,770	260	1.15	89
35	Punta Gorda, FL	Midsize	$70,300	140	1.93	100
36	Bay City, MI	Small	$65,690	70	1.44	82
37	Syracuse, NY	Large	$69,890	700	1.54	90
38	Mansfield, OH	Small	$65,240	110	1.49	83
39	Watertown, NY	Small	$63,910	110	1.88	91
40	Norwich, CT	Midsize	$79,800	350	1.98	117
41	Boise, ID	Large	$75,420	740	1.54	98
42	Longview, WA	Small	$87,490	60	1.14	103
43	Coeur d'Alene, ID	Midsize	$75,970	160	1.76	105
44	Lewiston, ID	Small	$75,870	60	1.58	100
45	Clarksville, TN	Midsize	$71,170	190	1.46	91
46	Lawton, OK	Small	$71,500	60	0.95	81
47	Leominster, MA	Small	$79,350	140	1.81	112
48	Oklahoma City, OK	Large	$72,460	1090	1.19	87
49	Johnson City, TN	Midsize	$61,900	180	1.61	83
50	Midland, MI	Small	$57,210	110	2.19	91

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Methodology

AdvisorSmith’s study weighed several factors in determining the best cities for dental hygienists.

1. Average annual compensation for dental hygienists

Our study used the average annual salaries that dental hygienists in each city were paid, with cities with higher salaries scoring more highly in our study.

In 2018, the average annual salary for dental hygienists in the U.S. was $75,500.

2. Cost of living index for each city

Our analysis adjusted the salaries earned in each city by a cost of living index, in order to equalize comparisons across cities. The cost of living, including necessities such as rent, transportation, and groceries, varies by city, so it is important to normalize the salaries so that the cities can be compared fairly. Cities with a lower cost of living were ranked more highly in our study.

3. The density of jobs for dental hygienists in each city

The location quotient measures the availability of jobs for dental hygienists in a given city, relative to the total number of jobs in the city. Cities with a higher location quotient have a higher concentration of jobs for dental hygienists, which means more career opportunities for dental hygienists in those cities. Cities with higher location quotients ranked more highly in our study of the best cities for dental hygienists.

In 2018, there were 215,500 dental hygienists employed in the United States, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The BLS also predicts that employment for dental hygienists will grow at a 20% pace over the 10-year period of 2016-2026, which is over three times faster than the national job growth outlook. Demand for dental hygienists continues to be bolstered by an aging population, as well as continued research in the oral health field.

Sources
[1] Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook
[2] Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics
[3] Sperling’s Best Places Cost of Living Index