California has the highest number of dental professional shortage areas in the U.S. with 517 but offers a well-above-average salary for dental hygienists.
Information on dental shortage areas comes from KFF, and salary data comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Here is the average salary for dental hygienists in the 10 states that have the highest number of dental professional shortage areas:
California
Shortage areas: 517
Dental hygienist salary: $111,580
Missouri
Shortage areas: 344
Dental hygienist salary: $76,540
Alaska
Shortage areas: 318
Dental hygienist salary: $113,770
Texas
Shortage areas: 316
Dental hygienist salary: $79,690
Florida
Shortage areas: 274
Dental hygienist salary: $76,100
Michigan
Shortage areas: 248
Dental hygienist salary: $70,190
Illinois
Shortage areas: 245
Dental hygienist salary: $76,120
Arizona
Shortage areas: 242
Dental hygienist salary: $87,610
Minnesota
Shortage areas: 204
Dental hygienist salary: $84,810
North Carolina
Shortage areas: 203
Dental hygienist salary: $78,470