Florida · Dental Hygienists (SOC 29-1292)
Dental hygienist salary in Florida
Across Florida's 22 metro areas, the median annual wage for dental hygienists runs from $79,050 in Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach to $100,140 in Naples-Marco Island, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' May 2025 survey. In the three largest metros the median is $82,780 (Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach), $95,870 (Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater) and $92,560 (Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford). Florida's own license file lists 18,470 dental hygienists with an email address on file.
How much do dental hygienists earn in each Florida metro?
| Metro area | Median annual wage | Mean annual wage | BLS employment estimate | Hold an active Florida license |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $82,780 | $87,190 | 3,460 | More than 2,500 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $95,870 | $91,900 | 1,670 | More than 2,500 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $92,560 | $85,320 | 1,490 | 1,001–2,500 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $94,960 | $87,820 | 1,110 | 1,001–2,500 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $95,930 | $95,310 | 610 | 501–1,000 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $91,120 | $83,340 | 350 | 501–1,000 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $95,400 | $91,000 | 390 | 501–1,000 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $79,050 | $81,300 | 230 | 251–500 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $94,060 | $92,160 | 440 | 251–500 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $81,780 | $84,090 | 250 | 251–500 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $93,080 | $89,170 | 290 | 251–500 |
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | $100,140 | $100,760 | 190 | 251–500 |
| Tallahassee, FL | $79,520 | $81,850 | 160 | 251–500 |
| Ocala, FL | $83,260 | $83,190 | 150 | 251–500 |
| Gainesville, FL | $84,750 | $86,080 | 240 | 251–500 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $88,030 | $87,850 | 170 | 101–250 |
| Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $87,360 | $86,130 | 100 | 101–250 |
| Punta Gorda, FL | $94,740 | $90,740 | 70 | 101–250 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | $94,490 | $95,160 | 140 | 101–250 |
| Homosassa Springs, FL | $81,810 | $85,070 | 50 | 51–100 |
| Sebring, FL | $80,590 | $84,610 | 40 | 51–100 |
| Wildwood-The Villages, FL | $92,900 | $88,160 | 80 | 26–50 |
Why the median and the mean disagree
The median is the midpoint: half earn more, half earn less. The mean is the average, and a few very high or very low wages move it. In Cape Coral-Fort Myers the median is $91,120 and the mean is $83,340; in Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach it goes the other way, $82,780 against $87,190. The BLS publishes both, and we show both.
What the BLS figure covers
It is a survey of employers, so it counts employees, not self-employed hygienists. It does not include overtime pay or employer-paid benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. It is the May 2025 estimate as published, not a projection for 2026.
How many dental hygienists are licensed in Florida?
The state's license file, downloaded August 3, 2026, has 18,470 dental hygienist records with an email address on file. That is a different count from the BLS one: the license file includes everyone who holds a Florida license, working or not, including some who live outside the state, and the BLS counts jobs that employers report.
Frequently asked questions
Why is there no single statewide figure on this page?
The figures here are the BLS metro-area estimates. Averaging 22 metro medians does not give a state median, so we show the metros as published instead of building a number the BLS did not publish.
My county is not in the table. Why?
The BLS data we use has no estimate for counties outside a metro area. Where the source has no figure, we do not make one up.
Is this a projection for 2026?
No. It is the May 2025 estimate, the most recent one the BLS had published when we read it on August 4, 2026. We do not adjust it forward.
Hiring a hygienist in this area?
We can tell you how many hold an active license inside your radius, and write to them on your practice's behalf. You pay per interested candidate.
Ask for your countWhere every number on this page comes from
- All wage figures U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025, SOC 29-1292 Dental Hygienists, 22 Florida metro areas. Read August 4, 2026.
- 18,470 and the license ranges Florida Department of Health license file, downloaded August 3, 2026.