How to become a Dental Hygienist in New York
If you are interested in training to become a dental hygienist in New York you will need to graduate from an accredited dental hygiene program.
Requirements for entry into accredited programs include a high school diploma or equivalent and, depending on the school, you may need to pass entrance exams and complete an entry interview. Medical and legal clearances may also be required.
Below we provide details of the top accredited dental hygienist programs in New York, as well as licensing requirements and salary and employment data for the state.
Get started by requesting information on admissions, curriculum and tuition from your selected dental hygiene schools in NY.
Top Accredited Dental Hygienist Schools New York – 2023
| School | Area | Learn More |
|---|---|---|
| SUNY Broome Community College | Binghamton | Program Page |
| Hostos Community College - CUNY | Bronx | Program Page |
| New York City College of Technology - City Tech | Brooklyn | Program Page |
| Farmingdale State College | Farmingdale | Program Page |
| Plaza College | Forest Hills | Program Page |
| Orange County Community College - SUNY | Middletown | Program Page |
| New York University College of Dentistry - NYU | NYC | Program Page |
| Monroe Community College, Brighton | Rochester | Program Page |
| Hudson Valley Community College | Troy | Program Page |
| Erie Community College - SUNY | Williamsville | Program Page |
Schools offering dental hygiene programs accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) are recognized to maintain a high standard of education by the American Dental Association (ADA).
There are currently 10 CODA-accredited dental hygiene programs in New York.
Once you have graduated from an accredited program, you will be required to sit some additional state and/or national certification exams before you are eligible to apply for your dental hygienist license.
New York Dental Hygienist License Requirements
Once you have successfully graduated from an accredited program and have passed all additional certification exams it is a requirement of New York law that you obtain a license to work as a dental hygienist there.
The New York State Board for Dentistry governs the licensing of dental hygienists in New York. You can contact the Board directly using the contact details below:
State Board: New York State Board for Dentistry
Phone: (518) 474-3817
Website: http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/dent/
Dental Hygienist Salary in New York
| Salary | $76,870 |
| Hourly Wage | $36.96 |
| Bottom 10% of Earners | $54,140 |
| Top 10% of Earners | $100,700 |
| # Employed | 11,050 |
The average dental hygienist salary in New York is $76,870 – 3% above the national average of $74,680.
This represents an hourly wage of $36.96.
There are currently 11,050 persons employed as dental hygienists in the state.
For the most recent information on salaries and employment for the sector visit our analysis page on Dental Hygienist Salary which is regularly updated.
New York Dental Hygienist Employment and Salaries by Metro Area
It is a great time to train to become a dental hygienist in New York given the strong salary levels and jobs growth for the career.
Dental hygiene salaries are among some of the highest in the healthcare industry and it is projected that an additional 30,000 positions will be created in the sector between 2016 and 2024 representing an almost 15% increase in employment.
The table below provides a breakdown of salaries and employment of dental hygienists across the main towns, cities and non-metro areas in New York;
Area Number Employed Salary
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY 570 $62,540.00
Binghamton, NY 240 $54,950.00
Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY 1030 $56,650.00
Dutchess County-Putnam County, NY Metropolitan Division 490 $75,780.00
Elmira, NY 60 $62,320.00
Glens Falls, NY 90 $66,660.00
Ithaca, NY 70 $63,200.00
Kingston, NY 80 $81,430.00
Nassau County-Suffolk County, NY Metropolitan Division 2090 $79,220.00
New York-Jersey City-White Plains, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division 6430 $83,480.00
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 10930 $82,650.00
Rochester, NY 1050 $61,210.00
Syracuse, NY 570 $66,130.00
Utica-Rome, NY 190 $68,210.00
Watertown-Fort Drum, NY 130 $54,400.00
Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area 210 $68,080.00
East Central New York nonmetropolitan area 30 $73,820.00
Central New York nonmetropolitan area 140 $62,450.00
Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area 280 $57,990.00
Related Healthcare Career Comparisons in New York
The table below provides a comparison between income and employment of dental hygienists and related healthcare careers in New York;
| Career | Number Employed | Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Dental Hygienists | 5670 | $66,910.00 |
| Respiratory Therapists | 3890 | $53,300.00 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographers | 1900 | $65,030.00 |
| Pharmacy Technicians | 13070 | $29,120.00 |
| Surgical Technologists | 2760 | $40,120.00 |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | 3210 | $30,860.00 |
| Dental Assistants | 8910 | $38,720.00 |
| Medical Assistants | 14810 | $30,500.00 |
| Phlebotomists | 5120 | $28,950.00 |