Which state pays dental hygiene and assisting certificate graduates the most?

Colorado, where the median program pays its graduates $31,002 in their first year, the highest of 8 state rankings. New York is next, at $28,538.

Which dental hygiene and assisting certificate program pays the most?

Cabrillo College in California reports the highest first-year pay of the 173 programs ranked here, $74,741.

How much debt do dental hygiene and assisting certificate graduates have?

The median program leaves its graduates with $9,500 in federal debt. Across programs, the median debt is 38% of first-year pay.

Highest-Paying Dental Hygiene and Assisting (Certificate) Programs in the US

198 programs report first-year pay
8 state rankings
Certificate in Dental Support Services and Allied Professions

College Scorecard June 2026 release · BLS wages May 2025

The short answer

The median dental hygiene and assisting certificate program in the US pays its graduates $26,487 in their first year and $31,114 five years after. Colorado has the highest state median ($31,002), and Louisiana the lowest ($20,271). The median program leaves its graduates with $9,500 in federal debt.

Median first-year pay$26,487Across 198 programs

Median pay after 5 years$31,114Across 206 programs

Median federal debt$9,500Across 152 programs

Debt-to-earnings38%Across 146 programs

All 173 programs, ranked by graduate pay

Each program is ranked by the median pay of its graduates one year after they finished, from College Scorecard. This measures what graduates earn, not how good the teaching is. Pay also depends on where graduates live and work. Programs that don't report a figure are listed last when you sort by it.

#	School	Year 1 pay	After cost of living	Year 5 pay	Debt	Debt to pay
1	Cabrillo CollegeAptos, CA · public	$74,741	$67,505	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
2	Pueblo Community CollegePueblo, CO · public	$62,355	$60,508	Not reported	$19,549	31%
3	Lewis and Clark Community CollegeGodfrey, IL · public	$53,786	$53,809	$46,398	$12,000	22%
4	Dakota County Technical CollegeRosemount, MN · public	$45,670	$46,309	$43,953	$11,000	24%
5	Herzing University-MadisonMadison, WI · private nonprofit	$41,499	$44,103	$36,628	$18,624	45%
6	Central Lakes College-BrainerdBrainerd, MN · public	$40,329	$40,893	$39,887	Not reported	Not reported
7	NHTI-Concord's Community CollegeConcord, NH · public	$39,278	$37,707	Not reported	$10,813	28%
8	Linn-Benton Community CollegeAlbany, OR · public	$37,488	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
9	Washtenaw Community CollegeAnn Arbor, MI · public	$37,428	$38,900	Not reported	$9,500	25%
10	Front Range Community CollegeWestminster, CO · public	$37,396	Not adjusted	$33,829	Not reported	Not reported
11	Des Moines Area Community CollegeAnkeny, IA · public	$37,317	$42,521	$40,484	$9,500	25%
12	Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community CollegeAsheville, NC · public	$36,817	$39,032	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
13	Lake Area Technical CollegeWatertown, SD · public	$36,631	$41,351	$40,772	$8,250	23%
14	Southeast Community College AreaLincoln, NE · public	$36,408	$40,407	$40,813	$8,491	23%
15	Portland Community CollegePortland, OR · public	$36,211	$35,034	$44,630	Not reported	Not reported
16	Northwest Technical CollegeBemidji, MN · public	$36,203	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
17	Minneapolis Community and Technical CollegeMinneapolis, MN · public	$35,725	$36,225	$45,032	Not reported	Not reported
18	Wayne Community CollegeGoldsboro, NC · public	$35,336	$37,462	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
19	Spokane Community CollegeSpokane, WA · public	$34,974	$32,682	$34,315	$8,631	25%
20	Minnesota North CollegeHibbing, MN · public	$34,237	$34,716	$35,897	$10,545	31%
21	Cerritos CollegeNorwalk, CA · public	$34,175	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
22	Northwestern Michigan CollegeTraverse City, MI · public	$34,029	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
23	Chemeketa Community CollegeSalem, OR · public	$33,802	$32,703	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
24	Western Technical College (Wisconsin)La Crosse, WI · public	$33,322	Not adjusted	$41,562	Not reported	Not reported
25	Western Dakota Technical CollegeRapid City, SD · public	$32,951	$37,197	Not reported	$8,250	25%
26	Hawkeye Community CollegeWaterloo, IA · public	$32,834	$37,413	$40,504	$13,125	40%
27	State Technical College of MissouriLinn, MO · public	$32,797	$36,113	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
28	Community College of Rhode IslandWarwick, RI · public	$32,490	Not adjusted	$41,735	Not reported	Not reported
29	Alamance Community CollegeGraham, NC · public	$32,421	$34,371	$31,021	Not reported	Not reported
30	Daytona State CollegeDaytona Beach, FL · public	$32,107	$31,047	$33,018	Not reported	Not reported
31	Stark State CollegeNorth Canton, OH · public	$32,023	$34,517	Not reported	$10,563	33%
32	Meridian CollegeSarasota, FL · private for-profit	$31,980	$30,924	Not reported	$9,500	30%
33	Guilford Technical Community CollegeJamestown, NC · public	$31,905	$33,824	Not reported	$13,249	42%
34	Chattanooga State Community CollegeChattanooga, TN · public	$31,590	$34,386	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
35	Fortis College-Baton RougeBaton Rouge, LA · private for-profit	$31,554	$35,773	$34,425	$12,994	41%
36	Mt. Diablo Adult Education-Mt. Diablo USDConcord, CA · public	$31,425	$28,382	$34,552	Not reported	Not reported
36	Unitek College (Fremont, California)Fremont, CA · private for-profit	$31,425	$28,382	Not reported	$9,039	29%
38	Central Piedmont Community CollegeCharlotte, NC · public	$31,360	$33,246	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
39	IBMC CollegeFort Collins, CO · private for-profit	$31,222	$30,297	Not reported	$10,218	33%
40	North-West College-Van NuysVan Nuys, CA · private for-profit	$31,215	$28,193	Not reported	$8,782	28%
41	Fox Valley Technical CollegeAppleton, WI · public	$31,038	$32,986	$36,060	$5,500	18%
42	Pickens Technical CollegeAurora, CO · public	$31,002	$30,084	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
43	Erie Community CollegeBuffalo, NY · public	$30,938	$28,667	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
44	Monroe Community CollegeRochester, NY · public	$30,812	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
45	Western Iowa Tech Community CollegeSioux City, IA · public	$30,735	$35,021	$34,615	$6,165	20%
46	Waukesha County Technical CollegePewaukee, WI · public	$30,725	$32,653	$34,630	$11,399	37%
47	Lincoln Technical Institute-IselinIselin, NJ · private for-profit	$30,560	$28,087	$35,069	$10,174	33%
48	Carrington College-PortlandPortland, OR · private for-profit	$30,326	$29,340	$34,735	$9,409	31%
49	Pima Medical Institute-AuroraAurora, CO · private for-profit	$29,935	$29,048	$34,871	$8,193	27%
50	Concorde Career College-San DiegoSan Diego, CA · private for-profit	$29,687	$26,813	$28,046	$9,500	32%
51	Central Carolina Community CollegeSanford, NC · public	$29,311	$31,074	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
52	College of Health Care Professions-AustinAustin, TX · private for-profit	$29,060	$29,941	$27,381	$9,085	31%
53	ATA College (Kentucky)Louisville, KY · private for-profit	$29,032	$32,201	$28,312	$12,930	45%
54	Augusta Technical CollegeAugusta, GA · public	$28,949	$30,063	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
55	Gurnick Academy of Medical ArtsSan Jose, CA · private for-profit	$28,937	$26,135	Not reported	$8,737	30%
56	Institute of Medical CareersPittsburgh, PA · private for-profit	$28,910	$29,629	Not reported	$13,166	46%
57	NorthWest Arkansas Community CollegeBentonville, AR · public	$28,819	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
58	Pinnacle Career InstituteKansas City, MO · private for-profit	$28,696	$31,598	Not reported	$9,544	33%
59	Albany Technical CollegeAlbany, GA · public	$28,683	$29,787	Not reported	$9,920	35%
60	Mandl School-The College of Allied HealthNew York, NY · private for-profit	$28,585	$26,487	$34,339	$9,995	35%
60	Northeast Iowa Community CollegeCalmar, IA · public	$28,585	$32,571	$38,523	$7,625	27%
62	Porter & Chester Institute of HamdenHamden, CT · private for-profit	$28,583	$27,587	$35,201	$9,500	33%
63	Porter & Chester InstituteBridgeport, CT · private for-profit	$28,549	$27,554	$32,745	$9,500	33%
64	New York School for Medical and Dental AssistantsLong Island City, NY · private for-profit	$28,538	$26,443	$32,728	$8,650	30%
65	Manatee Technical CollegeBradenton, FL · public	$28,447	$27,508	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
66	Danville Community CollegeDanville, VA · public	$28,405	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
67	Fortis College-Orange ParkOrange Park, FL · private for-profit	$28,321	$27,386	$31,663	$13,000	46%
68	Brookline College-PhoenixPhoenix, AZ · private for-profit	$28,295	$28,105	$32,692	$9,412	33%
69	Orange Technical CollegeOrlando, FL · public	$28,220	$27,288	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
70	Midwest InstituteEarth City, MO · private for-profit	$28,111	$30,953	$32,238	$9,500	34%
71	Carrington College-SacramentoSacramento, CA · private for-profit	$28,060	$25,343	$36,206	$9,151	33%
72	Lakeshore Technical CollegeCleveland, WI · public	$28,022	$29,781	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
73	Career Care InstituteLancaster, CA · private for-profit	$28,017	$25,304	$29,653	$7,600	27%
74	Charlotte Technical CollegePort Charlotte, FL · public	$27,852	$26,933	$31,472	Not reported	Not reported
75	YTI Career Institute-YorkYork, PA · private for-profit	$27,842	$28,535	$29,329	$9,500	34%
76	Blackhawk Technical CollegeJanesville, WI · public	$27,831	$29,578	$33,899	Not reported	Not reported
77	Central New Mexico Community CollegeAlbuquerque, NM · public	$27,816	$30,165	$35,755	Not reported	Not reported
78	Choffin Career and Technical CenterYoungstown, OH · public	$27,733	$29,893	Not reported	$9,500	34%
79	Flint Hills Technical CollegeEmporia, KS · public	$27,671	$30,722	$34,968	$8,847	32%
80	Center for Instruction Technology & InnovationMexico, NY · public	$27,400	$25,389	Not reported	$6,711	24%
81	Milan Institute-VisaliaVisalia, CA · private for-profit	$27,394	$24,742	$30,559	$8,919	33%
82	Pima Medical Institute-TucsonTucson, AZ · private for-profit	$27,301	$27,117	$33,638	$8,509	31%
83	CBD CollegeLos Angeles, CA · private nonprofit	$27,280	$24,639	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
84	Concorde Career Institute-TampaTampa, FL · private for-profit	$27,152	$26,256	$33,695	$9,500	35%
85	Gwinnett Technical CollegeLawrenceville, GA · public	$27,071	$28,113	$37,021	Not reported	Not reported
86	San Joaquin Valley College-VisaliaVisalia, CA · private for-profit	$27,039	$24,421	$31,068	$9,500	35%
87	All-State Career SchoolEssington, PA · private for-profit	$26,998	$27,670	$30,881	$14,666	54%
88	Savannah Technical CollegeSavannah, GA · public	$26,911	$27,947	$31,393	Not reported	Not reported
89	Charter CollegeAnchorage, AK · private for-profit	$26,847	$26,228	$33,058	$13,708	51%
90	First Institute of TravelCrystal Lake, IL · private for-profit	$26,773	$26,784	$34,726	$9,500	35%
91	Ivy Tech Community CollegeIndianapolis, IN · public	$26,705	$28,614	$38,327	$11,222	42%
92	Milwaukee Career CollegeMilwaukee, WI · private for-profit	$26,601	$28,270	Not reported	$7,520	28%
93	Fortis College-CentervilleCenterville, OH · private for-profit	$26,550	$28,618	$28,449	$14,167	53%
94	Carrington College-BoiseBoise, ID · private for-profit	$26,489	$27,739	$29,952	$8,968	34%
95	Carrington College-Phoenix NorthPhoenix, AZ · private for-profit	$26,485	$26,307	$31,832	$8,933	34%
96	Community Care CollegeTulsa, OK · private nonprofit	$26,313	$29,955	$27,959	$8,513	32%
97	Onondaga Cortland Madison BOCESLiverpool, NY · public	$26,253	$24,326	$34,926	$9,024	34%
98	Pima Community CollegeTucson, AZ · public	$26,087	Not adjusted	$39,434	Not reported	Not reported
99	Concorde Career College-AuroraAurora, CO · private for-profit	$26,058	$25,286	$34,004	$9,500	36%
100	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-DicksonDickson, TN · public	$26,045	$28,350	$36,972	Not reported	Not reported
101	Southwest Wisconsin Technical CollegeFennimore, WI · public	$25,791	$27,410	$32,220	Not reported	Not reported
102	West Georgia Technical CollegeWaco, GA · public	$25,487	$26,468	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
103	Concorde Career Institute-JacksonvilleJacksonville, FL · private for-profit	$25,407	$24,568	$32,076	$9,500	37%
104	York Technical CollegeRock Hill, SC · public	$25,404	$27,098	$33,757	$9,500	37%
105	American Institute-West HartfordWest Hartford, CT · private for-profit	$25,355	$24,472	$28,783	$11,471	45%
106	Ross Medical Education Center-LansingLansing, MI · private for-profit	$25,352	$26,349	$29,967	$9,500	37%
107	Fortis College-Cuyahoga FallsCuyahoga Falls, OH · private for-profit	$25,255	$27,222	$30,259	$13,000	51%
107	Milan Institute-San Antonio IngramSan Antonio, TX · private for-profit	$25,255	$26,021	$30,863	$8,919	35%
109	Riverside County Office of Education-School of Career EducationRiverside, CA · public	$25,244	$22,800	$31,747	Not reported	Not reported
110	Fortis Institute-WayneWayne, NJ · private for-profit	$25,232	$23,190	$32,876	$11,250	45%
111	Tennessee College of Applied Technology NashvilleNashville, TN · public	$25,189	$27,418	$36,738	Not reported	Not reported
112	Downey Adult SchoolDowney, CA · public	$24,893	$22,483	$32,209	Not reported	Not reported
113	MedQuest CollegeLouisville, KY · private for-profit	$24,798	$27,505	$29,136	$9,476	38%
114	American Career College-Los AngelesLos Angeles, CA · private for-profit	$24,783	$22,383	$28,661	$8,444	34%
115	Centura College-ChesapeakeChesapeake, VA · private for-profit	$24,569	$24,301	$26,362	$9,500	39%
116	Fortis Institute-TowsonTowson, MD · private for-profit	$24,564	$23,403	$27,731	$13,167	54%
117	Milan Institute-Palm DesertPalm Desert, CA · private for-profit	$24,473	$22,104	$30,489	$8,104	33%
118	Ross Medical Education Center-CincinnatiCincinnati, OH · private for-profit	$24,411	$26,312	$28,263	$9,500	39%
119	Great Lakes Institute of TechnologyErie, PA · private for-profit	$24,398	$25,005	$28,546	$10,690	44%
120	Westchester School for Medical & Dental AssistantsArdsley, NY · private for-profit	$24,390	$22,600	$35,256	$3,666	15%
121	Erwin Technical CollegeTampa, FL · public	$24,264	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
122	Intellitec College-Grand JunctionGrand Junction, CO · private for-profit	$24,157	$23,442	$30,446	$8,586	36%
123	PCI Health Training CenterDallas, TX · private for-profit	$24,130	$24,862	$33,494	$8,095	34%
124	Texas State Technical CollegeWaco, TX · public	$24,017	$24,745	$31,347	$6,584	27%
125	Ross Medical Education Center-BrightonBrighton, MI · private for-profit	$23,957	$24,899	$29,691	$9,500	40%
126	Arizona College of Nursing-TempeTempe, AZ · private for-profit	$23,827	$23,667	$32,758	$9,697	41%
127	Concorde Career College-Kansas CityKansas City, MO · private for-profit	$23,712	$26,110	$32,197	$9,500	40%
128	Concorde Career Institute-MiramarMiramar, FL · private for-profit	$23,606	$22,827	$27,427	$9,500	40%
129	Ross Medical Education Center-FlintFlint, MI · private for-profit	$23,566	$24,493	$27,101	$9,500	40%
130	Northwest Career CollegeLas Vegas, NV · private for-profit	$23,531	$23,536	Not reported	$9,500	40%
131	Ross Medical Education Center-WarrenWarren, MI · private for-profit	$23,402	$24,322	$28,023	$9,500	41%
132	Concorde Career College-San BernardinoSan Bernardino, CA · private for-profit	$23,384	$21,120	$29,381	$9,404	40%
133	Eastland-Fairfield Career and Technical SchoolsGroveport, OH · public	$23,382	$25,203	$30,484	$7,421	32%
134	Pima Medical Institute-AlbuquerqueAlbuquerque, NM · private for-profit	$23,369	$25,343	$30,284	$8,510	36%
135	North-West College-PomonaPomona, CA · private for-profit	$23,018	$20,789	$24,777	$9,500	41%
136	Concorde Career College-Garden GroveGarden Grove, CA · private for-profit	$22,994	$20,768	$35,249	$9,500	41%
137	Fortis College-DothanDothan, AL · private for-profit	$22,928	$25,813	$24,604	$11,358	50%
138	Lamar State College-OrangeOrange, TX · public	$22,866	$23,559	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
139	Fortis CollegeMobile, AL · private for-profit	$22,821	$25,693	$27,300	$12,330	54%
140	Midwest Technical Institute-IllinoisSpringfield, IL · private for-profit	$22,815	$22,825	$26,840	$9,500	42%
141	Compu-Med Vocational Careers CorpHialeah, FL · private for-profit	$22,750	$21,999	$23,733	Not reported	Not reported
142	Milwaukee Area Technical CollegeMilwaukee, WI · public	$22,749	Not adjusted	$31,950	Not reported	Not reported
143	Great Oaks Career CampusesCincinnati, OH · public	$22,709	$24,478	$32,626	$6,668	29%
144	Delta College IncCovington, LA · private for-profit	$22,486	$25,492	$27,525	$5,800	26%
145	Concorde Career College-North HollywoodNorth Hollywood, CA · private for-profit	$22,428	$20,257	$31,159	$9,500	42%
146	American Career College-OntarioOntario, CA · private for-profit	$22,218	$20,067	$31,916	$8,444	38%
147	Glendale Career CollegeGlendale, CA · private for-profit	$22,013	Not adjusted	Not reported	$9,500	43%
148	UEI College-GardenaGardena, CA · private for-profit	$21,979	$19,851	$25,502	$9,500	43%
149	North-West College-West CovinaWest Covina, CA · private for-profit	$21,748	$19,642	$27,533	$9,500	44%
150	Remington College-Dallas CampusDallas, TX · private nonprofit	$21,721	$22,380	$29,039	$9,500	44%
151	Dawn Career InstituteNewark, DE · private for-profit	$21,633	$21,675	$27,089	$9,500	44%
152	Genesis Career College-CookevilleCookeville, TN · private for-profit	$21,573	$23,482	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
153	College of Health Care Professions-NorthwestHouston, TX · private for-profit	$21,569	$22,223	$28,294	$9,248	43%
154	Delta College of Arts & TechnologyBaton Rouge, LA · private for-profit	$21,546	$24,427	$26,205	$6,000	28%
155	Concorde Career College-Grand PrairieGrand Prairie, TX · private for-profit	$21,086	$21,725	$29,690	$9,500	45%
156	Concorde Career College-MemphisMemphis, TN · private for-profit	$20,285	$22,080	$31,005	$10,782	53%
157	Florida National UniversityHialeah, FL · private for-profit	$20,203	$19,536	$26,215	$7,125	35%
158	Ultimate Medical AcademyClearwater, FL · private nonprofit	$20,029	$19,368	$30,192	$9,500	47%
159	Summit CollegeSan Bernardino, CA · private for-profit	$19,964	$18,031	$26,315	$8,405	42%
160	National Career CollegePanorama City, CA · private for-profit	$19,958	$18,026	$18,131	$9,611	48%
161	UEI College-Huntington ParkHuntington Park, CA · private for-profit	$19,904	$17,977	$25,872	$9,500	48%
162	All-State Career-BaltimoreBaltimore, MD · private for-profit	$19,835	$18,898	$28,861	$13,140	66%
163	Miller-Motte College-ChattanoogaChattanooga, TN · private for-profit	$19,134	$20,827	$25,794	$11,825	62%
164	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-MemphisMemphis, TN · public	$19,013	$20,696	$30,130	Not reported	Not reported
165	Blue Cliff College-MetairieMetairie, LA · private for-profit	$18,996	$21,536	$27,391	$14,630	77%
166	Delta College SouthBaton Rouge, LA · private for-profit	$18,852	$21,372	Not reported	$5,943	32%
167	Dorsey CollegeMadison Heights, MI · private for-profit	$18,208	$18,924	$22,817	$13,000	71%
168	Praxis InstituteMiami, FL · private for-profit	$18,121	$17,523	Not reported	$9,080	50%
169	UEI College-FresnoFresno, CA · private for-profit	$17,746	$16,028	$22,407	$9,500	54%
170	High Desert Medical CollegeLancaster, CA · private for-profit	$17,720	$16,004	Not reported	$7,521	42%
171	Unitech Training Academy-LafayetteLafayette, LA · private for-profit	$17,304	$19,617	$24,000	$6,082	35%
172	Medical Career & Technical CollegeRichmond, KY · private for-profit	$16,206	$17,975	Not reported	$6,272	39%
173	NUC UniversityBayamon, PR · private for-profit	$13,437	Not adjusted	$17,845	$5,500	41%

Pay after cost of living divides first-year pay by the Bureau of Economic Analysis price level of the school's state, where the US average is 100. It is shown for 158 programs where at least half of the graduates who work are working in the school's state. The other 15, whose graduates mostly work in other states or whose state has no price level, are listed last when you sort by it.

49 programs report pay but not debt, so they are ranked only by pay.

College Scorecard withholds pay for programs with too few graduates, to protect their privacy, so those programs can't be ranked. 25 more programs report pay but aren't listed, because College Scorecard's school file doesn't name their schools. The national medians above still count them.

Dental Hygiene and Assisting (Certificate) programs by state

Each row is the median across the state's dental hygiene and assisting certificate programs. State names link to the full ranking of that state's programs.

#	State	Programs	Year 1 pay	Debt
1	Colorado	7	$31,002	$9,500
2	New York	7	$28,538	$8,650
3	Florida	14	$26,280	$9,500
4	Ohio	7	$25,255	$9,500
5	California	29	$24,783	$9,404
6	Michigan	7	$23,957	$9,500
7	Texas	8	$23,442	$9,085
8	Louisiana	6	$20,271	$6,041

Programs in 33 more states and territories report pay, but too few to rank. A state ranking needs at least five programs that report both pay and debt.

Quick picks nationwide

Lowest median debt

Westchester School for Medical & Dental Assistants, NY$3,666
Delta College Inc, LA$5,800
Delta College South, LA$5,943
Delta College of Arts & Technology, LA$6,000
Unitech Training Academy-Lafayette, LA$6,082
Texas State Technical College, TX$6,584
Great Oaks Career Campuses, OH$6,668
Center for Instruction Technology & Innovation, NY$6,711
Florida National University, FL$7,125
Eastland-Fairfield Career and Technical Schools, OH$7,421

Lowest debt for the pay

Westchester School for Medical & Dental Assistants, NY15%
Center for Instruction Technology & Innovation, NY24%
Washtenaw Community College, MI25%
Delta College Inc, LA26%
Career Care Institute, CA27%
Pima Medical Institute-Aurora, CO27%
Texas State Technical College, TX27%
Delta College of Arts & Technology, LA28%
North-West College-Van Nuys, CA28%
Unitek College (Fremont, California), CA29%

Only the 67 programs with their own page here are included. "Debt for the pay" is median debt divided by first-year pay.

Careers this field leads to

These are the jobs that the federal crosswalk from fields of study to occupations links to dental hygiene and assisting, largest first. Pay is the median across the US and all experience levels.

Dental Assistants

$48,070

Median pay in the US. 387,790 people work in this job in the US. Nationally, jobs are projected to grow 7% from 2025 to 2035, with about 53,000 openings a year. Typical education to start: postsecondary nondegree award.

Bottom 10%: $37,130Top 10%: $62,250

Dental Hygienists

$98,100

Median pay in the US. 222,740 people work in this job in the US. Nationally, jobs are projected to grow 8% from 2025 to 2035, with about 15,000 openings a year. Typical education to start: associate's degree.

Bottom 10%: $74,880Top 10%: $126,050

Dental Laboratory Technicians

$49,610

Median pay in the US. 34,410 people work in this job in the US. Nationally, jobs are projected to shrink 6% from 2025 to 2035, with about 3,600 openings a year. Typical education to start: high school diploma or equivalent.

Bottom 10%: $36,660Top 10%: $76,940

Common questions

The median dental hygiene and assisting certificate program in the US pays its graduates $26,487 in their first year and $31,114 five years after.

Dental Hygiene and Assisting (Bachelor's) programs in the US, ranked71 programs by pay and debt Dental Hygiene and Assisting (Associate's) programs in the US, ranked180 programs by pay and debt

About this data

Earnings and debt only include students who received federal financial aid, and earnings only count graduates who were working and not enrolled in more school.
Debt only includes federal loans. Private loans and credit cards are not counted.
Medians are across programs, not students: each program counts once, however many graduates it has.
National medians include every program in the 50 states, DC, and US territories, including schools that have since closed. Schools with several campuses that report one combined figure are counted once.
Programs are ranked by College Scorecard median pay one year after graduation. Pay after cost of living uses the price level of the school's state.
Scorecard figures describe graduating classes from several years ago. BLS wages are from May 2025. Price levels are the Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities for 2024.

Sources

U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, field of study and institution files, June 2026 release
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025 to 2035
NCES, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk
Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, 2024