As a dental hygienist, you are part of the thriving healthcare industry which is growing at an incredible pace. Florida is a fantastic place to be a dental hygienist – with its beautiful beaches and warm climate, it’s the ideal location to work in high-tech dental facilities.
But before embarking on your career as a dental hygienist in Florida, one important factor that you would like to know is how much do they make?
Dental Hygiene – A Dynamic Profession
Dental hygiene involves protecting oral health through prevention and treatment of various oral diseases. It mainly involves cleaning teeth, taking x-rays for diagnosis, charting your patients’ mouths, educating them regarding preventive care strategies and offering advice about oral hygiene products.
In addition to examining or cleaning teeth as per dentists’ prescriptions, some dental hygienists also carry out admin duties such as scheduling patients’ appointments or managing office bills.
Salary Overview
According to May 2020 occupational employment statistics released by Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), The annual mean wage for Dental Hygienists currently sits at $70,580 nationally ($33.92 hourly) However; different states have their own wage ranges depending upon local cost-of-living factors.
Florida ranks among top-5 paying States in Nursing Careers according to Nurse.org following California being the highest-paying state averaged at $111K annually then followed by Hawaii ($103 K), Texas ($98 K)and District Of Columbia($97K). More precisely,in Florida below mentioned salary detail can give idea about income-grade of Dental Hygienist profession:
1)Lakeland-Winter Haven: Annual Mean Wage $71.430
2)North Port-Sarasota Bradenton: Annual Mean Wage $77.420
3)Gainesville: Annual Mean Wage $69.100
4)Tampa-St.Petersburg-Clearwater: Annual Mean Wage $69.320
5)Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford: Annual Mean Wage $67,000
Education Requirements
Becoming a dental hygienist in Florida requires specific education and licensing procedures:
Firstly,you have to pursue an associates degree (AAS) from one of the accredited community colleges or career programs available all over the state administered by respective board i.e., Council on Dental Hygiene Education.
According to Lumina Foundation,there are more than 20 institutions within Florida offering accredited dental hygiene education program out of which some popular ones include Seminole State College in Sanford,Santa Fe College at Gainesville,Miami Dade college at Miami,Southern Technical college campuses located statewideand Palm Beach State College etc.
After completion of this coursework institute attains licensure for examination from Community Health Accreditation Program (CODA),National Board Dental Hygiene Examination also called NB DHEX& Clinical Board Examswhich arrganged according to candidate’s chosen date by The Commission on Dental Competency Assessment(CDCA).
Licensure is required for practicing as an Registered Dental Hygienist(RDH) in any state you choose.Therefore upon clearing these exams,candidate receive licensure making them eligible to practice their profession while satisfying Continuing Education(CE) obligations yearly.
Career Prospects & Job Outlook
Employment opportunities for dental hygienists are soaring across Florida-It projected growth rate per annum currently estimates will be 6.5% through 2028 for only Sunshine state
As dentists nationwide expanding their practices with growing demand due to increased awareness among populations regarding oral health maintenance, it automatically boosts-up hiring opportunities for professional RHDs..Due majority healthcare facilities operating over standard hours; many hygienists can conveniently work part-time shifts while others enjoy full time schedules.
Conclusion
Job satisfaction and security remain essential components that every considering employee tends tto desire.For aspiring dental hygienists, salaries in Florida appear promising while also being ranked among the most desirable places to reside.To summarize; average pay range of a Dental Hygiene postures aspect of stability and rapid growth opportunities, outpacing several other occupations.
As a dental hygienist, you are an essential part of the booming healthcare industry that is experiencing rapid growth. In Florida, the state’s beautiful beaches and warm climate make it an ideal destination for dental hygienists to work in high-tech dental facilities.
One of the most important factors to consider before pursuing your career as a dental hygienist is how much do they make? According to Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the annual mean wage for Dental Hygienists currently sits at $70,580 nationally ($33.92 hourly) with variation depending on local cost-of-living factors.
Florida is one of top-5 paying States in nursing careers following California being the highest-paying state averaged at $111K annually then followed by Hawaii ($103 K), Texas ($98 K)and District Of Columbia($97K). Various cities within Florida offers different salary packages according to their economic structure including Lakeland-Winter Haven topping out with Annual Mean Wage $71.430. Other major cities likeNorth Port-Sarasota Bradenton,Gainesville,Tampa-St.Petersburg-Clearwaterand Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford also appear promising ranges addressing easily managed lifestyles simultaneously earning good enough packages.
Dental hygiene involves treating oral diseases through prevention and care tactics that mainly includes cleaning teeth, taking x-rays, charting oral health information and providing patients with preventive care strategies along with suggests regarding oral hygiene products. Besides carrying out these clinical duties sometimes admins also manage office bills or schedule appointments..
To become a dental hygienist in Florida requires specific education programs such as associates degree (AAS) from any available accredited community college or program administered under respective regulatory board i.e Council on Dental Hygiene Education.After reviewing more than 20 institutions offering Accredited Dental Hygiene Education Program across florida;most popular among them include Seminole State College,Santa Fe College,Miami Dade college,Southern Technical college and Palm Beach State College.
Upon completion of the course work candidate can receive licensure for examination from Community Health Accreditation Program (CODA),National Board Dental Hygiene Examination i.e NB DHEX& Clinical exams that usually take place according to candidates’ chosen date arranged by The Commission on Dental Competency Assessment(CDCA).
After successful clearance of these examinations, dental hygienists are required to obtain licensure in a state where they aspire to practice.If anyone has an RDH certification,i.e.,Registered Dental Hygienist;He/she can work to meet Continuing Education(CE) obligations yearly.
The demand for dental hygienists is soaring across Florida which no other occupation stands beside.Projecting 6.5% annual growth rate through 2028, this profession tends to provide excellent job security whilst affording part-time or full-time shift opportunities due majority healthcare facilities operating over standard hours.So,every aspirant should consider pursuing their career goals becoming a professional Registered Dental Hygienist in Florida as it demonstrates both stability and rapid growth potentials alongside higher salary packages than most other occupations.