How Much Does a Dental Hygienist Make in New Jersey?

Have you ever wondered how much dental hygienist makes in New Jersey?

Even as the pandemic continues, there’s an increased demand for dental hygienists in New Jersey, especially in the ambulatory centers.  According to BLS, they expect the need for dental hygienists to grow by 19% by 2024, while it projects New Jersey at a 25.1% increase by 2022. With the demand for skilled dental hygienists, New Jersey has one of the highest-paid dental hygienists. So how much does a dental hygienist in New Jersey make? 

Before we start, how do you become a dental hygienist in New Jersey?

How to become a dental hygienist in New Jersey?

 To become a licensed dental hygienist in New Jersey, you must pass the National Board Hygiene Exam, a jurisprudence exam, and a clinical exam by the NERB.   Before you can sit for the exam, you must have:

• High School Diploma
• Pursue/ Graduate with an associate or bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene
  • The program must be a CODA-accredited dental hygienist program.
• Does not require a CPR license, but having it gives you an advantage
• Continuing Education (CE) requirement, dental hygienists must always have 10 hours of CE credits to maintain a license.

How Much does a dental hygienist in New Jersey Make?

On average, a dental hygienist makes a median salary of  $74,820 (2018). In New Jersey, dental hygienists make between  $72,082 and $94,373. It’s one of the best and highest paying states for dental hygienists, with its median salary being about  $84,492  with an average hourly rate of $42.45. Also, depending on experience, education, location, and specialty, some dental hygienists make $101,570 a year. 

 Highest Paying Cities in New Jersey

Many cities in New Jersey pay significantly higher than the national and state average. Most dental hygienists work in metropolitan cities like Edison, NJ, with an average salary of $84,229, or Jersey City, NJ, with $90,310. Many cities in New Jersey pay dental hygienists higher than the average salary. 

Here are the top 5 highest paying (hourly) cities

• Millburn, NJ-$44.37
• Trenton, NJ -$42.01
• Ocean City, NJ-$41.33
• Fort Lee, NJ-$41.16
• Atlantic City, Hammonton, NJ – $40.96

Dental Hygienist Programs in New Jersey

The demand for dental hygienists in New Jersey continues to grow, especially in ambulatory and pediatric dental care. There are many dental hygiene programs in the state that include externships, guidance, and specializations. If you’re interested in dental hygiene programs in New Jersey: Here are 6 dental hygienist programs accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation.

• Bergen Community College, Paramus, NJ: 2-year AAS Degree 
• Burlington County College, Pemberton, NJ: 2-year AAS Degree
• Camden County College, Blackwood, NJ: 2-year AAS Degree 
• Middlesex County College, Edison, NJ: 2-year AAS Degree
• Rowan College at Burlington County, Pemberton, NJ: 2-year AAS Degree
• Thomas Edison State University, Trenton, NJ: 2-year AAS Degree and 4-year BS

Note: Due to the pandemic, many dental educational programs are transitioning to online or virtual and hybrid learning. 

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