Working as a Dental Hygienist
Industry Overview
The job outlook for Dental Hygienists is good throughout BC. There is particularly high demand for hygienists in the rural regions of the province.
Dental hygienists may have a much broader scope of responsibilities than in the past. You may be a dental health-care educator who instructs patients in oral hygiene procedures and promotes community dental health programs. The role of dental hygienists in areas outside clinical practices, such as community health centres and residential care facilities is expected to increase.
Job Outlook in BC
Chart from WorkBC
WorkBC provides job openings in BC regions from 2022-2023:
| Region | Employment in 2022 |
Average Annual Employment Growth |
Expected Number of Job Openings |
| Vancouver Island / Coast | 510 | 2.5% | 250 |
| Lower Mainland / Southwest | 2,000 | 1.9% | 850 |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 520 | 0.2% | 130 |
| Cariboo | 190 | -0.5% | 0 |
| Kootenay | 80 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Northeast | 70 | -1.5% | -10 |
| North Coast & Nechako | 60 | 0.0% | 0 |
You can learn more about working as a dental hygienist in BC from:
Types of Employers
Many dental hygienists work in private dental offices. You may also find employment in hospitals, clinics, educational institutions or government agencies and private industry.
Salary & Working Hours
The median annual salary for dental hygienists working full-time in BC is $91,975.
In addition to a salary, most full-time dental hygienists receive health and dental benefits, paid sick days, and paid vacations.
Job Bank Canada provides hourly wages for Dental Hygienists in BC regions:
Source: Job Bank Wage Report [Search Dental Hygienist]
Working Hours
Full-time dental hygienists usually work a 5-day, 32-40 hour week. Overtime may be necessary on occasion.
Some hygienists work on a part-time schedule or work evenings and weekends.