Dental Hygienist Salary in New Jersey: $111,644 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across New Jersey's 61 metropolitan areas, the average median dental hygienist pay sits at $111,644/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 29-1292. Because New Jersey sits at BEA RPP 115.2 (15% above the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $96,913 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: East Orange ($114,571), Franklin ($114,571), Woodbridge ($114,538).

Dental Hygienist Salary in New Jersey - 2025 BLS Data Infographic — New Jersey dental hygienist salary overview (2026)

$111,644

Avg Median Salary

$53.68

Avg Hourly Rate

1,453

Metro Employed

Cities

In 2026, dental hygienists in New Jersey can expect an average median salary of $111,645, which is 8.5% higher than the national median of $102,946. The highest paying areas like East Orange and Franklin offer salaries of $120,231, while Camden represents the lower end with $103,274. This $16,957 salary gap reflects differences in the cost of living, demand for dental services, and competition among dental practices for skilled hygienists. New Jersey has specific requirements for dental hygienists, including state licensing and adherence to scope of practice laws, which may vary from those in other states. The demand for dental hygienists is driven by an increasing public focus on oral health and preventive care, contributing to a projected annual growth rate of 4.94%. With a total of 1,453 dental hygienists employed across 61 metro areas, the job market indicates a solid demand for professionals in this field. Key cities such as Woodbridge at $120,196 and Parsippany-Troy Hills at $120,024 reinforce the positive outlook for those entering or advancing in this career within New Jersey.

New Jersey Dental Hygienist Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)

$94,177

avg across 61 cities

Median

$111,644

state average

Top Earners (90th %ile)

$133,825

avg across 61 cities

Overall salary range in New Jersey: $79,391 (lowest entry-level) to $161,660 (highest top earner)

New Jersey vs National Average

New Jersey

$111,644

National Median

$102,946

New Jersey dental hygienists earn 8.45% more than the national median (+$8,698/year difference).

New Jersey Dental Hygienist Salary Distribution (2026)

Dental Hygienist salaries in New Jersey range from $94,177 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $133,825 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $111,644. The New Jersey median is $8,698 above the US national median of $102,946. The average hourly rate is $53.68/hr. Approximately 1,453 dental hygienists are employed across 61 cities.

2020 BLS Actual

$84,693

2025 BLS Actual

$106,389

2026 Current Est.

$111,644

2020–2027 Growth

+38.3%

Salary Trajectory for Dental Hygienists in New Jersey (2020–2027)

2020–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.94% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected

Year	Annual Salary	Status
2020	$84,693	Actual
2021	$78,918	Actual
2022	$91,815	Actual
2023	$96,572	Actual
2024	$91,289	Actual
2025	$106,389	Actual
2026(current)	$111,644	Estimated
2027	$117,159	Projected

Based on 6 years of BLS OEWS data for the New Jersey metropolitan area, the median dental hygienist salary grew 25.6% from $84,693 (2020) to $106,389 (2025). At a 4.94% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $117,159 by 2027 — a total increase of $32,466 (38.33%) from 2020.

Note: Historical values (2020–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the New Jersey metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 4.94% CAGR derived from 6-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.

Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in New Jersey

East Orange

9 employed · $57.80/hr

$120,231

+7.69% vs avg

Franklin

15 employed · $57.80/hr

$120,231

+7.69% vs avg

Woodbridge

25 employed · $57.79/hr

$120,196

+7.66% vs avg

Parsippany-Troy Hills

8 employed · $57.71/hr

$120,024

+7.51% vs avg

Union

15 employed · $57.56/hr

$119,723

+7.24% vs avg

Lowest Paying Cities in New Jersey

City	Median Salary	vs State Avg	Hourly
Camden	$103,274	-7.50%	$49.65
Vineland	$104,059	-6.79%	$50.02
Trenton	$105,905	-5.14%	$50.92
Atlantic City	$106,178	-4.90%	$51.05
Princeton	$108,011	-3.25%	$51.92

Best Value Cities for Dental Hygienists in New Jersey

When adjusted for local cost of living, these New Jersey cities offer the most purchasing power for dental hygienists.

City	Nominal Salary	CoL Index	Adjusted Salary
Vineland	$104,059	95.968	$108,431
Atlantic City	$106,178	98.857	$107,406
East Orange	$120,231	115.2	$104,367
Franklin	$120,231	115.2	$104,367
Woodbridge	$120,196	115.2	$104,337

Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.

Salary by Experience Level in New Jersey

Experience Level	Estimated Annual	Est. Hourly	Description
Entry Level (0-2 years)	$94,177	$45.28	10th percentile, new graduates
Mid Career (3-7 years)	$111,644	$53.68	50th percentile, median salary
Experienced (7+ years)	$133,825	$64.34	90th percentile, top earners

Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across New Jersey metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

All 61 Cities in New Jersey

#	City	Median Salary	Hourly	Entry (P10)	Top (P90)	Employed
1	East Orange	$120,231	$57.80	$92,026	$151,457	9
2	Franklin	$120,231	$57.80	$92,026	$151,148	15
3	Woodbridge	$120,196	$57.79	$86,319	$161,660	25
4	Parsippany-Troy Hills	$120,024	$57.71	$87,536	$150,774	8
5	Union	$119,723	$57.56	$90,320	$149,782	15
6	Elizabeth	$119,679	$57.54	$94,043	$159,910	25
7	Brick	$119,432	$57.42	$89,626	$153,183	18
8	Gloucester Township	$119,093	$57.26	$88,823	$147,718	10
9	New Brunswick	$119,047	$57.23	$89,200	$151,604	8
10	Howell	$118,653	$57.05	$88,267	$157,840	11
11	Paterson	$118,510	$56.97	$91,786	$155,988	31
12	Plainfield	$118,370	$56.91	$87,117	$157,200	10
13	Irvington	$118,192	$56.83	$87,061	$156,225	10
14	West New York	$118,013	$56.74	$86,644	$148,210	10
15	Piscataway	$117,929	$56.70	$86,567	$155,728	14
16	Jackson	$117,863	$56.67	$85,930	$148,021	10
17	Lakewood	$117,667	$56.57	$89,834	$157,566	31
18	West Orange	$117,599	$56.54	$92,454	$147,165	11
19	Montclair	$117,424	$56.46	$91,527	$142,735	10
20	Washington Township	$117,240	$56.36	$91,074	$146,297	12
21	Old Bridge	$117,197	$56.34	$94,114	$152,997	17
22	Jersey City	$117,116	$56.31	$83,689	$153,218	42
23	Edison	$117,015	$56.26	$88,337	$155,090	20
24	Union City	$116,962	$56.23	$93,672	$152,522	17
25	Toms River	$116,924	$56.22	$93,581	$144,971	17
26	Bridgewater	$116,789	$56.15	$89,968	$140,713	10
27	Middletown	$116,755	$56.13	$93,177	$144,426	15
28	Clifton	$116,398	$55.96	$92,326	$154,917	14
29	South Brunswick	$116,191	$55.86	$89,002	$150,090	7
30	Berkeley	$116,181	$55.86	$88,489	$150,060	7
31	Perth Amboy	$116,163	$55.85	$91,768	$149,902	13
32	Wayne	$116,126	$55.83	$91,679	$149,778	10
33	Linden	$116,108	$55.82	$88,800	$142,379	7
34	Passaic	$116,078	$55.81	$91,567	$153,859	18
35	East Brunswick	$116,034	$55.79	$88,622	$149,294	8
36	Bloomfield	$115,788	$55.67	$90,878	$148,675	11
37	Long Branch	$115,712	$55.63	$87,841	$148,538	8
38	Westfield	$115,390	$55.47	$86,577	$140,389	7
39	Newark	$115,310	$55.44	$80,093	$159,166	61
40	Hamilton	$115,271	$55.42	$89,543	$146,684	21
41	Sayreville	$115,234	$55.40	$86,687	$146,708	9
42	Cherry Hill	$115,215	$55.39	$89,057	$146,815	11
43	North Bergen	$115,008	$55.29	$89,045	$145,852	13
44	Hoboken	$114,905	$55.24	$85,332	$145,519	15
45	Kearny	$114,728	$55.16	$94,814	$145,013	11
46	Manalapan	$114,626	$55.10	$94,565	$144,761	8
47	Bayonne	$114,511	$55.05	$87,883	$148,721	16
48	Manchester	$114,249	$54.93	$93,274	$147,885	9
49	Moorestown	$113,801	$54.72	$91,921	$133,796	4
50	Hackensack	$113,798	$54.72	$92,649	$142,125	8
51	Marlboro	$113,209	$54.43	$91,095	$140,266	9
52	Mount Laurel	$113,126	$54.39	$90,894	$140,005	11
53	Egg Harbor	$112,850	$54.25	$90,344	$139,418	8
54	Evesham	$112,685	$54.18	$89,944	$138,899	12
55	Rahway	$112,187	$53.94	$88,629	$140,967	9
56	Summit	$110,520	$53.13	$93,259	$134,476	5
57	Princeton	$108,011	$51.92	$84,488	$130,840	6
58	Atlantic City	$106,178	$51.05	$101,529	$112,706	230
59	Trenton	$105,905	$50.92	$102,988	$115,917	330
60	Vineland	$104,059	$50.02	$90,374	$105,801	90
61	Camden	$103,274	$49.65	$79,391	$134,027	16

More New Jersey Salary Data

Hourly Rates

Explore dental hygienist hourly pay in New Jersey cities.

East Orange →Franklin →Woodbridge →

Entry Level

Starting salaries for new dental hygienists.

East Orange →Franklin →Woodbridge →

Senior / Experienced

Top earner salaries for experienced dental hygienists.

East Orange →Franklin →Woodbridge →

Explore More Dental Hygienist Salary Data

National OverviewMedian salary & full US data Entry-Level SalariesStarting pay & new grad earnings Hourly Pay RatesPer-hour rates & part-time income Highest Paying StatesTop states ranked by salary

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do dental hygienists make in New Jersey in 2026?

The average median dental hygienist salary in New Jersey is $111,644/year across 61 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $103,274 in Camden to $120,231 in East Orange. This makes New Jersey one of the higher-paying states, at 8.45% above the national median of $102,946. The state employs approximately 1,453 dental hygienists.

What is the highest paying city for dental hygienists in New Jersey?

East Orange offers the highest dental hygienist salary in New Jersey at $120,231/year ($57.80/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are East Orange ($120,231), Franklin ($120,231), Woodbridge ($120,196). Higher pay in these metros is typically driven by cost of living, demand for dental hygiene services, and competition among employers for licensed dental hygienists.

How does New Jersey dental hygienist pay compare to the national average?

New Jersey's average dental hygienist salary of $111,644 is 8.45% above the national median of $102,946 in 2026. The state employs approximately 1,453 dental hygienists across 61 metropolitan areas. When comparing salaries, consider cost-of-living differences — a lower nominal salary in an affordable area may provide better purchasing power than a higher salary in an expensive metro.

What is the entry-level dental hygienist salary in New Jersey?

Entry-level dental hygienists (10th percentile) in New Jersey earn approximately $94,177/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $79,391 in lower-paying areas to $102,988 in the highest-paying metros. New graduates should expect salaries at the lower end and can typically reach the area median within 3–5 years of clinical experience.

How many dental hygienists are employed in New Jersey?

New Jersey employs approximately 1,453 dental hygienists across 61 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. Job availability varies by metro area, with larger cities offering more opportunities. Demand continues to grow as the dental hygiene field expands and the population ages.

Which New Jersey city offers the best value for dental hygienists?

When adjusted for cost of living, Vineland offers the highest purchasing power for dental hygienists in New Jersey, with an adjusted salary of $108,431 (nominal: $104,059, CoL index: 95.968). This means your dollar goes 4% further compared to the national average, making it an attractive option for maximizing real income.

Written by Sarah Chen, RDH, BSDH

Dental Career Analyst

Sarah Chen is a registered dental hygienist with over 12 years of clinical experience. She specializes in salary benchmarking and career strategy, helping dental professionals make data-driven career decisions using official BLS statistics.

Clinically reviewed by Amanda Doucette, RDHData verified by David Oh

Methodology & Data Source

Statewide salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 4.94% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 dental hygienist compensation across New Jersey. State averages are employment-weighted across 61 metro areas — larger metro areas with more dental hygienistscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS, 6-year dataset (2020–2025). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.

2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.94%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for dental hygienists (SOC 29-1292).

Compiled and verified by Sarah Chen, RDH, BSDH, a licensed dental hygienist with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov

Last verified: May 21, 2026

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