Skip to Main Content

11 of the Best Types of Dental Hygienist Jobs in 2024

Discover some great types of Dental Hygienist jobs that are hiring now.

Dental hygienists are licensed dental professionals who work alongside dentists to provide oral healthcare and educate patients about oral hygiene. They perform maintenance cleanings, administer fluoride and polish, and teach patients how to care for their teeth properly.

If you are interested in a Dental Hygienistjob, here are some kinds of positions to explore for this type of work with open positions on ZipRecruiter.

High Paying Dental Hygienist Jobs

  • Internship Dental Hygienist

    An Internship is a position within your desired field that pays little or no money but offers you the opportunity to gain real-world experience. This may set you apart for your future job search. Generally, Internships are almost expected by employers on an entry-level candidate’s resume. You are much more of an asset to an employer if you have some work experience.

  • Temporary Dental Hygienist

    In most cases, the minimum qualifications for most dental hygienists include the completion of a two-year associate’s degree in a dental hygienist program. Unlike assistants, you also need a license from the state you practice in, which requires passing a written and clinical exam. To get a temporary dental hygienist job, you may work for a large private practice, apply for a temporary job directly, or seek employment from a temp agency that offers fill-in team members on an ad-hoc basis.

  • Entry Level Dental Hygienist

    Entry-level jobs are positions that do not require any previous experience in the role. Most entry-level jobs are aimed at high school or college graduates as a starting point for a future career goal. A college student may have majored in their ideal career field, but will still need to start in an entry-level position to train in a real-world environment. Some students move from internships into entry-level jobs, but most entry-level jobs do not expect a candidate to have any prior employment or on-site training.

  • Full Time Dental Hygienist

    Full-time employment hours are generally determined by the employer. There is no single universal definition; however, various laws and policies govern different types of eligibility and statuses. For example, the Fair Labor Standards Act does not define full-time employment but does require overtime pay after 40 hours of work in a workweek for non-exempt employees. The Affordable Care Act, in determining Applicable Large Employers, defines full-time employees as those working an average of at least 30 hours per week, or 130 hours a month. The H-1B Visa Program defines full-time as 40 hours per week, normally, and in no event would less than 35 hours per week be considered to be full-time employment. In practice, full-time employment is typically between 32 and 40 hours per week.

  • Trainee Dental Hygienist

    The requirements to get a trainee job vary by industry. In some, such as architecture or accounting, you must graduate from an accredited college program before you can begin work. Other industries, such as retail, manufacturing, or telemarketing, may require only a high school diploma or a GED certificate to begin a training program. No matter what profession you are interested in, you should have strong verbal and written communication and an interest in continuing the career.

  • Locum Dental Hygienist

    Salary range: $76,000-$100,000 per year

    Locum Dental Hygienist is a typical job search query. Most salaries for Locum Dental Hygienist jobs pay between $76,000 (25th percentile) and $100,000 (75th percentile) annually. There are plenty of open positions nationwide for Locum Dental Hygienist job searches, with about 9,000 jobs hiring now on ZipRecruiter.

  • Temp Dental Hygienist

    Salary range: $76,000-$100,000 per year

    Temp Dental Hygienist is a common job search query. Most salaries for Temp Dental Hygienist jobs pay between $76,000 (25th percentile) and $100,000 (75th percentile) annually. There are plenty of open positions nationwide for Temp Dental Hygienist job searches, with about 9,000 jobs hiring now on ZipRecruiter.

  • Co Op Dental Hygienist

    Salary range: $76,000-$100,000 per year

    The qualifications you need for a Co-Op job depend on the application requirements at your school and the organization where you want to work. You must be an officially enrolled student at your college or university, and GPA and credit hour requirements are typical. Some companies prefer Co-Op students whose major aligns with the industry. You must have strong communication skills and a willingness to learn and practice a variety of new tasks and job duties. Your responsibilities are to apply your learning to your Co-Op work experience and be a punctual and motivated employee.

  • Independent Contractor Dental Hygienist

    You find Independent Contractors in many different industries, so the path to becoming one varies significantly. In general, you must have several years of experience in the field and have a track record of success in your industry. You also must pursue the kind of work that can be done on a consultant or contract basis. You may possess particular skills or expertise that a company needs temporarily, such as an IT Consultant, or provide a service that is required intermittently, like a Freelance Writer. Many Independent Contractors transition to becoming self-employed to have a more flexible schedule and the ability to choose their clients.

  • Night Shift Dental Hygienist

    Night shift (or graveyard shift) jobs are employment opportunities that fall outside of typical business hours. Jobs with this work schedule are available at establishments that are open late or are open twenty-four hours a day. Bartenders, security drivers, and delivery drivers are just a few examples of night shift jobs.

  • Executive Dental Hygienist

    Salary range: $76,000-$100,000 per year

    The different types of executive jobs include upper- and senior-level management as well as the C-suite—the highest levels of senior management. The C-suite executives have the word “chief” at the beginning of their titles: Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Operating Officer (COO), and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) are the most common. Companies with a heavy reliance on information technology may also have a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). Other executive jobs include vice president and director of various departments.